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Michael Jackson's doctor charged in singer's death

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-02-09 04:11

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles prosecutors on Monday charged Michael Jackson's personal doctor with involuntary manslaughter in the singer's death last year.

Dr Conrad Murray has been a focus of investigations for months, since the coroner's office ruled that Jackson's death in Los Angeles on Jun 25 was a homicide by drug overdose, principally the anesthetic propofol and sedative lorazepam.

Murray was at Jackson's rented Los Angeles house at the time of his death and was the man who, according to police affidavits, admitted administering the powerful anesthetic propofol to the 50 year-old singer to help him sleep.

The coroner's report in August said Jackson's death was caused principally by propofol and the sedative lorazepam. A cocktail of other painkillers, sedatives and a stimulant were also found in his body.

The charge of involuntary manslaughter alleges Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson," said a statement from the Los Angeles District Attorney's office.

Murray is expected to make an initial appearance in court in Los Angeles later on Monday.

He could face up to four years in prison if convicted, the district attorney's office said.

The doctor has repeatedly insisted he did nothing wrong and has told investigators he was not the first doctor to give Jackson propofol, according to court records.

Murray, a cardiologist, was hired in May 2009 to care for Jackson while the entertainer prepared for a series of 50 comeback concerts in London aimed at reviving a career sidelined by his humiliating 2005 trial and acquittal on charges of molesting a 13 year-old boy.

The self-styled King of Pop died of sudden cardiac arrest after a late night rehearsal in Los Angeles for the planned concerts.

His death prompted a worldwide outpouring of grief for the singer, who started his career as a child and whose 1982 album "Thriller" remains the world's best-selling album.

Murray was an immediate focus of police investigations into Jackson's death. Authorities found bottles of propofol in Murray's doctor's bag and on the bedside table of Jackson's home, according to court records unsealed last year.

They also searched Murray's offices in Las Vegas and Houston, Texas.

Jackson, adored by many

The singer, dubbed the King of Pop, was a member of the legendary Motown singing group the Jackson 5 and was a hugely successful solo artist as an adult. His 1982 album "Thriller" remains the world's best-selling album.

His sudden cardiac arrest on the morning of Jun 25, which prompted a worldwide outpouring of grief, followed a late night rehearsal in Los Angeles for the planned concerts that were to have been called "This Is It."

A documentary film, "Michael Jackson's This Is It," made from video footage of the rehearsals for those concerts, took in nearly $260 million at worldwide box offices.

When Jackson died, he left an estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars that went into trusts benefiting his mother, three children and various charities.

Jackson's family is said to be furious that Los Angeles police and prosecutors took months to file a criminal charge.

Brother Jermaine Jackson, also one of the Jackson 5, told celebrity news show "Entertainment Tonight" last week that Murray "should be cuffed, he should be fingerprinted, he should have his mug shot just like they did my brother," referring to Michael Jackson's arrest on child molestation charges.