Dr. Conrad Murray - Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Michael Jackson death

Jackson's doctor charged with manslaughter - CNN.com

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Dr. Conrad Murray, personal physician to Michael Jackson, was charged Monday with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the pop star's death last summer.

A criminal complaint filed earlier in the day alleged that Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson."

Murray turned himself in shortly before 4 p.m. at a branch courthouse near Los Angeles International Airport. He pleaded not guilty during a brief hearing before Judge Keith L. Schwartz.

The judge set bail at $75,000, despite arguments from prosecutor David Walgren that Murray is a flight risk.

The judge refused to suspend Murray's medical license as a term of his bond, but he did order him not to use any anesthesia on patients.

"I don't want you sedating people," Schwartz told Murray.

Michael Jackson's family -- including his parents, three of his brothers and one sister -- filled the first two rows of the small courtroom.

The involuntary manslaughter charge means that Murray caused Jackson's death by acting "without due caution and circumspection."

If convicted, Murray would face a maximum four-year prison sentence, according to prosecutors.

More on involuntary manslaughter

Murray traveled to Los Angeles at the end of January from his home in Houston, Texas, in expectation of possible charges, his lawyer said.

He used part of his time last week to visit the pop star's resting place in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Murray, a cardiologist, was hired as Jackson's personal physician last spring as the singer prepared for comeback concerts in London, England.

The doctor told Los Angeles police that he was with Jackson at his $100,000-a-month rented Holmby Hills mansion through the early morning hours of June 25, 2009, in an effort to help the pop star fall asleep, according to a police affidavit.

He administered sleep aids, and after Jackson finally began sleeping in the late morning hours, Murray said, he left the bedroom for "about two minutes maximum," the affidavit says.

"Upon his return, Murray noticed that Jackson was no longer breathing," it says.

The doctor stayed with Jackson as an ambulance rushed him to UCLA Medical Center.

Efforts at CPR proved fruitless, and Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m.

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled Jackson's death a homicide, resulting from a combination of drugs, primarily propofol and lorazepam.

The coroner's statement said Jackson died from "acute propofol intoxication," but there were "other conditions contributing to death: benzodiazepine effect." Lorazepam and two other drugs Murray said he used are benzodiazepines.

The doctor told investigators he had given Jackson three anti-anxiety drugs to help him sleep in the hours before he stopped breathing, a police affidavit said.

Murray had been treating Jackson for insomnia for six weeks at the time of the singer's death. The doctor told investigators he gave Jackson 50 milligrams of propofol, the generic name for Diprivan, diluted with the anesthetic lidocaine every night via an intravenous drip.

The doctor told police he was worried that Jackson was becoming addicted to the drug and tried to wean him off it.

During the two nights before Jackson's death, Murray said, he put together combinations of other drugs that succeeded in helping Jackson sleep.

It's about time!

They also released autopsy information today.....

Autopsy: Jackson had vitiligo, wore wig - Celebrities- msnbc.com

Aside from finally confirming the vitiligo, and digging into his hair issues, it did mention a bit about the drugs and the type of care he received.

If I recall back in the day when Michael told the public the reason for his skin issues was vitaligo the media scoffed at it. I also recall people not believing him having drug addiction when he went to rehab all those years ago. I always thought he was telling the truth. A sad end to a very talented person.

Great, and well deserved.

At the same time though I kind of despised the way Jermaine went on TV and was outright asked if Michael had ANY culpability in his own death and denied it. Michael doesn't become a saint, or blameless, just because he's dead.

Jermaine was exhibiting classic codependent behavior.

Lord knows the family has some problems, but I can't fault Jermaine for the comments he made. Most would probably do the same for a family member. Not excusing it; just saying it's very understandable.

Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter. Can't believe it. I thought sure he'd get off.

I can believe it. And I also know that if it wasn't him giving Michael the drug, it would have been (and from what I heard was) another doctor. There are plenty of unscrupulous people out there who can betray their ethics for a price.

Sadly, I'm sure you're right. Plenty of scummy people willing to do whatever they have to do to get in with celebrities.

It's obvious that Murray was guilty, not only of manslaughter, but of just a horrifying lack of good judgement. The cynic in me wasn't sure a jury would convict him. An analyst on, I think, ABC, said that he might only serve a year in prison. Now, that's criminal.

ETA: I was just reading an article on CNN about the verdict and someone said something like "If this was anyone but Michael Jackson, would we be here talking about this?" Probably not. The average person doesn't have the money or power to have a personal physician in their home to administer anasthesia to them nightly so they can sleep. :ohno