Jackson's Doctor Charged With Manslaughter

Conrad Murray Pleads Not Guilty as Lawyer Vows to "Fight Like Hell"; But Family Seeks Justice 8 Months after Pop Icon's Death

(CBS/AP)  Updated 11:37 p.m. EST

Michael Jackson's doctor has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of the pop star.

Dr. Conrad Murray, a Houston cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died he died June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion, entered his plea Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court just hours after he was charged. He was released from jail after posting $75,000 in bail.

He could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

Murray appeared in court in a gray suit as Jackson's father Joe, mother Katherine, and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy sat behind prosecutors.

One person shouted "murderer" Monday as Murray walked past a throng of reporters and Jackson fans and into the courthouse adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport.

Authorities say Murray caused Jackson's death by administering a powerful sedative to help him sleep. He is accused of acting "unlawfully and without malice" in bringing about Jackson's death, according to a complaint filed by prosecutors.

Jackson hired Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback performances.

Officials say the singer died in Los Angeles after Murray administered the powerful general anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.

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The complaint said Murray acted "without the caution and circumspection required" when he administered a powerful sedative to Jackson in an effort to help him sleep. If convicted, Murray faces as much as four years in prison.

Soon after the charge was filed, Jackson's mother and father, his brother Jermaine Jackson, and other family members arrived at the courthouse adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport, where hundreds of reporters and Jackson fans were gathered outside.

"Looking for justice," was all Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, had to say as he walked past a crowd of reporters and into the courthouse.

The charge was expected, and Murray's attorney, Ed Chernoff, said his client planned to surrender to authorities later Monday.

"We'll make bail, we'll plead not guilty and we'll fight like hell," Chernoff said before the charge was filed.

Jackson, 50, hired Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback concerts in London. Officials say the singer died after Murray administered the powerful general anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.

Propofol is only supposed to be administered by an anesthesia professional in a medical setting because it depresses breathing and heart rate while lowering blood pressure.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists warned in 2004 that a doctor using propofol should have education and training to manage anesthesia complications, be physically present throughout sedation and monitor patients "without interruption" for signs of trouble. Rescue equipment "must be immediately available," it said.

Los Angeles investigators were methodical in building a case against Murray, wary of repeating missteps that have plagued some other high-profile celebrity cases, most notably O.J. Simpson and actor Robert Blake, both of whom were acquitted of murder.

After reviewing toxicology findings, the coroner ruled Jackson's death a homicide caused by acute intoxication of propofol, with other sedatives a contributing factor.

Murray appears to have obtained the drug legally and its use is not in itself a crime. To show the doctor was negligent in his care, detectives spoke to more than 10 medical experts to see if his behavior fell outside the bounds of reasonable medical practice.

According to court documents, Murray told police he administered propofol just before 11 a.m. then stepped out of the room to go to the bathroom.

There is some dispute about what happened next. According to court filings, Murray told police that upon his return from the bathroom, he saw Jackson was not breathing and began trying to revive him.

But an ambulance was not called until 12:21 p.m. and Murray spent much of the intervening time making non-emergency cell phone calls, police say. The nature of the calls, which lasted 47 minutes, is not known.

Murray's lawyer has said investigators got confused about what Murray had told them, and that the doctor found his patient unresponsive around noon.

The investigation included several agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, the district attorney's office and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

A large number of witnesses has been interviewed by police, including those who were present during Jackson's last days, those who worked with him in preparation for his series of comeback concerts, "This Is It," and members of his personal entourage, including his security guard and personal assistant.

Murray, who has a practice in Houston, became Jackson's physician in May. An executive of concert promoter AEG Live has said Jackson insisted Murray be hired to accompany him to London.

The concerts sold out in anticipation of Jackson's return as the "King of Pop" after years of odd behavior, trial and acquittal on molestation charges and self-imposed isolation that overshadowed a lifetime in music that reached superstardom with the 1982 album "Thriller" and such hits as "Beat It" and "Billie Jean."

At the time of his death, Jackson was in relatively good health and had no illegal drugs in his system, according to the autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press. Jackson had a strong heart and his kidneys and most other major organs were normal, according to the autopsy.

Jackson's most serious problem was a chronic inflammation of the lungs that reduced capacity and may have left him short of breath. But the autopsy said it would not have been a direct or contributing cause of death.

Legal experts said the autopsy findings bolstered the case for prosecution and would block a potential defense that Jackson hid serious conditions that increased risk of death from drugs he willingly took.

"Early Show" national correspondent Hattie Kauffman reports that Jackson’s sister, Latoya, and brother, Jermaine, are lashing out, saying Murray should be accused of murder.

"He should have been charged with premeditated," Latoya told Hollywood TV. "This is terribly wrong, what happened to my brother."

"I think he should be cuffed, he should be fingerprinted, he should have his mug shot," Jermaine asserted to Entertainment Tonight.

[obbbl]

Michael Jackson was apparently a drug addict, not to mention his other perversions. He wasted his talent and his money in order to seek things that weren't natural. If it wasn't this doctor giving him drugs, he would have paid another one to. His family really didn't have much to do with him towards the end of his life, but now they all show up for the photo-ops.

[Dgunner]

They lions need a whipping boy!MJ would have over dosed himself eventually then who would they throw to the lions? He had bogus IDs' and six different doctors. If they convict this man? It will set precedence and then future doctors ' treatment will again be tied by the courts. Sue them all until we have to beg for a doctor.The spoiled little wanna be white black kid whopse life was in a shambles died from drug overdose. BFD. It will happen manytimes more maybe another will go down today?

[djseavy]

Of course Joe Jackson has to run his big mouth and act like a big shot during all of this. If it weren't for his talented children, Joe Jackson would be just a dumpster diver. He acts like he's somebody important - but he's just a big-mouthed idiot.

[wdh3007]

I suppose were lucky this guy didn't pull an OJ stunt.

[pickaguitar1]

RIP Michael

[newsterl]

Murray's lawyer has said investigators got confused about what Murray had told them, and that the doctor found his patient unresponsive around noon. "

LOL yeah right, Im real sure profesionally trained career investigators are going to get "confused"

[SocietysNightmare]

Unbelievable! Dr. Murray must have friends in the DA's office. Trial by JUDGE, not by JURY. No way the DA will get a guilty on MANSLAUGHTER. They will never convince a JUDGE that the circumstances couldn't have occurred under another physician's care (emphasis on PHYSICIAN). 12 "JUDGE JOE BROWN" fans would put you away.

[vampire34]

Annie said :
..'''This is a tribute for Michael and Kenny and children!!!

Michael, you joined God some time ago.
Your heritage is Great and Unequalled. God gave you to us and suddenly summoned you to Himself. That was a shock for all of us, which lasts till now.
Your friend Kenny will show to the whole world how hard you worked to come back to us. Unfortunately, fate was cruel.
We, your fans, will never forget your Genius that you shared with us for 44 years.
Cruel fate took you away from your children that you loved so much and from your mother, which is a grandmother to them but can never replace THE DAD YOU WERE.
44 years of your work as a singer, songwriter, choreographer, arranger, scriptwriter and dancer will certainly not go to waste.
Thank you Michael for having been with us.
Millions of children around the world and charity organizations lost the great Mentor who gave them financial and spiritual support. Watching your messages moves us to tears.
Michael, you were hurt in the cruelest way by evil people who accused you of molesting children, although you lived for these children and they were the driving force of your actions and your creative work. Your serious illnesses and related troubles were also a heavy cross to bear, as people made up rumors and incredible stories about you.
But you survived it all.
You were killed by someone who should take special care of you ? besides, he is not the only one with hands stained with your blood and tears of your children, mother and millions of fans around the world!!!
Michael, rest in peace and may your Genius and Soul sound all the time. The world is cruel and you experienced that human cruelty ? for your heart.
You were their victim.
Now you are Free and you can still take care of your children and those children who die of hunger all over the world, asking God for mercy to all of them.
I love you Michael and Kenny Ortega and I send my condolences to all who cannot put up with this senseless death.
''THIS IS IT'' Michael ''THIS IS IT ''!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goodbye
Ania
PS.
Kenny, I come from Gda?sk, Poland. Michael was with me all my life (48 years).
You were lucky to meet Michael on your way.
Here we are waiting for your movie, too. Good luck!
Greetings from Gda?sk Poland
Conrad Murray - no docktor ..no -HORROR
I love Micxhael

[deuelpete]

To Ania: I just want to thank you for what you have said here. Michael would be proud of how you took up for him. I am an old woman who just got to know him after he died. I bought books both for and agains't Michael and I mean alot of books and I also read everything I could read on the internet about him and I did this with much prayer to God. I wanted to really know who Michael Jackson was. This is what I found, he had all the fruits of the Holy Spirit in his life, Love, Joy, Peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and a very deep love for his fans, a deep Godly love for children and a very deep, deep love for his Lord jesus Christ whom he tried so hard to be like. I watched the movie, This Is It, and I just sat amazed at how he treated people. If it wasn't right he did not come back in a mean way he would just say thats what practice is for, not never knowing someday this would be made into a movie. I have now lived 71 years and the one thing I have learned in this life is how to read people. Now I have my own DVD of This Is It, and I watch it over and over because there is listens to be learned just by watching him. I loved to hear him say God bless you. I have already tolded the Lord when I get to Heaven, Lord after spending time with you above all and my love ones, I want to meet Michael Jackson who taught me so much more in just a short time of how to live not for myself, but for others. Yes he had trouble sleeping and the reason was the many heartaches Michael had been through. His Mother is the reason Michael was such a loving kind person he was so much like her. I know with out a doubt when Michael made it home, God said, Michael, a job well done.
Shirl

[cattiej]

I think the Doc's guilty but he will probably walk free. If I was him, I would get out of the country. Jacko was crazy and he surrounded himself with people who were enabler's. Jackson paid the price for playing with drugs. Too bad he was allowed to have the kids. I don't think any of them were his kids cause I think he didn't have physical sex with the mother. They are probably test tube kids. I feel sorry for them. there lives are going to be messed up, forever. They will never, ever know a normal life. I think the Jackson family are all crazy. I used to like the Jackson music but lost interest many years ago when their personal life styles became too crazy. And to think that millions of people just work for a living while these people live lavish life styles and in a crazy world that none of us really know and millions of us really don't care about anyway. It's all too weird. The doctor should lose his license to practice forever.

[rkalleman]

Well, the man's a doctor and he should know better than prescribing that many drugs for a spoiled patient, even if the spoiled patient was such a crybaby about it. So, nail him to the Hippocratic Oath cross. Then again, he did the rest of us a favor by getting rid of that perverted fool, who was lucky in life to buy off his accusers. So it's even. The weird-o got what he deserved and life is, after all, a measure of balance. Next time, MJ, don't sleep in the same bed with kids. It's just a bad signal despite the seeming good intents you had in mind.