Update: Michael Jackson's Doctor Pleads Not Guilty, License Restricted
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On Monday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office formally charged Dr. Conrad Murray with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. Murray, 56, the former personal physician to Jackson and the last person to see the star alive, could serve up to four years in prison if convicted.
Update: With Murray (without handcuffs) at his side and members of the Jackson family in attendance, lawyer Ed Chernoff entered a plea of "not guilty" in an L.A. Superior Court Monday afternoon. The judge increased Murray's bail amount from $25,000 to $75,000. in addition, the judge has restricted Murray's medical license -- prohibiting Murray from prescribing or administering any sedatives. Murray was remanded into the custody of the sheriff's department to be booked and processed. UsMagazine.com has also learned that the Attorney General's office of California has filed a motion to revoke Murray's medical license altogether.
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In the charge filed, the D.A. alleges that Murray "did unlawfully and without malice kill Michael Joseph Jackson."
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Jackson died in his L.A. mansion on June 25, 2009 at age 50; he suffered cardiac arrest as a result of lethal amounts of propofol administered by Murray. Propofol is a powerful anesthetic usually only used in hospitals and other medical settings. Murray admitted to giving Jackson (who suffered from insomnia) the potent drug, but has previously denied any culpability in the pop star's death. "Please don't worry," he told supporters in a YouTube message this past August. "I will be fine. I have done all I could do. I told the truth."
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But Brian Oxman, a lawyer for the Jackson family, said on CBS' The Early Show last Wednesday that Murray deserves a "second-degree murder charge...I think the family will be very, very upset."
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Although many have speculated that Murray had planned to surrender himself to authorities, his attorneys have not yet replied to the D.A.'s charges. His arraignment is scheduled for later Monday afternoon.
Tell Us What You Think
22I wonder if the nanny & doctor were busy screwing around having sex and thats why he left the room and wasn't there for Micheal after all he must have been lonely living in the home taking care of Micheal. Did the investigators and police check her and his stories out?????????????
its true michael is at some fault here, but that doctor should of known better and takes the blame as well! what he did was wrong! i just wonder if he'll rot in hell.and by god's grace jutice will be served. ps.there's even news that doctor Murray could be lying with his "story." The new found evidence and voicemail he left his other patient doesnt match up really well with his story. jusice will be served!
this really pisses me off.No one could really tell Mchael what he could and could not do most of the time because he did WHATEVER he wanted no matter all the good advice the people who care about him tried to give him...it was a struggle to intevene
ugghhhhh ACTUALY.if you all were big fans of michae jackson like me,you'd know the family made NUMEROUS attempts to help michael.but they were kept away.michael's father and other members of the family even tried to come in numerous times but were kept out and weren't even allowed in!gosh, michael had some bad people around him that were in it for the money :(
michael jackson was a drug addict. we all know that. lisa marie presley tried to save him. she wrote a nice letter to say my "tears to you". michael did heavy drugs when married to lisa marie. Dr. Murry is not the cause of your sons death "you are." parents that do not care. "God bless me I have great Parents" Mr.& Mrs. Jackson please step up and love your children! It's hard. My Parents are the best.
Dr Murray had taken an oath and it was his responsibilty to do what was best for his patient; in this case Michael Jackson. While I don't think Dr. Murray meant to kill Michael. his actions caused Michael's death and he should be punished accordingly.
To everyone who said Michael was to blame, I totally agree with you. Come on people, it's sad that Michael is gone, but he knew better.
I agree with Ana, MJ's family is to blame equally if not more then the doctor. If you had a sibling who has MJ's problem with drugs wouldn't you try to help him? I think if his siblings or mom took turns staying at his place(not sure if they did) even if is is just 3 days a week. They may have preventing him dieing form the drugs. They could have also may have been able to coax hi off them/
His license needs to be revoked, he needs to rot in hell for what he did to Michael Jackson!
Murray is a trained professional, who has taken an oath and is bound by professional ethics. It was his responsibility to know better and to exercise sound judgement. There are no excuses for him. If anything, he should have been facing strickter charges. He's getting off too easily. It's setting such a bad precedent for opportunists aiming to exploit patients with fat bank accounts.
I am so sorry for Michael Jackson and his family, but we all know that Michael was addicted to some pills and that he was mixing everything. He had been doing that for a long time and his body couldn't take it. I am sure Michael was taking something on his own and now it's very easy to blame the doctor. Do you really believe Michael was only taking the drugs the doctor prescribed? He was desperate, he couldn't sleep and he took what he could. Saying that Michael was a bank deposit it's stupid, because the doctor would make more money with him alive. He would be his paycheck. Now, his family should and could have prevented this. They knew very well Michael's problems with drugs. It makes them look good, blaming the doctor, but what did the family do to help Michael?
I agree with "trueblue". He should be charge with murder. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he got greedy. Now he killed his bankroll which was all that Michael Jackson was to him. Just another bank deposit. He should do time and not get away with this. It would teach all the other greedy physicians out there that they could end up in prison if they don't do what's right.
Yes and WHOS HOUSE WERE THEY AT AND WHOS BEDROOM WERE THEY IN AND WHO HAD THE PILLS NEXT TO THE BED MICHAEL JACKSON THATS WHO.. AND WHO DEMANDED FROM THE BLACK NURSE THAT SHE GIVE HIM THE DRUG SHE TOLD HIM THAT HE COULD DIE BUT HE DID NOT LISTEN..
Michael Jackson was the biggest perpetrator in his own death. Dr. Murray was just the guy there that week. MJ has a VERY long history of drug seeking behavior, what are you going to do, sue the syringe next? The family while saddened knew the extent of what was going on but did nothing as long as the teet was still in their mouth. Sue them next? Dr. Murray was reckless but a murderer I just don't think so.
Murray should fry for such gross negligence. He's a professional with an oath, who allowed his own personal greed to sway him from doing the right thing. Michael should have never been given such strong drugs. For Murray to turn a blind eye and to administer such a strong concoction is horrific. He should have recieved a harsher charge than involuntary manslaughter.
Yes, Michael Jackson is at fault, but so is this doctor. He admistered these drugs to someone knowing full well that it was not the right thing to do. Doctors pledge to practice ethically, and this doctor did not do his job; therefore he should be punished accordingly.
Michael Jackson bares some responsibility for his own death..IT'S NOT THE DR.'S FAULT ENTIRELY....Michael Jackson had been self- medicating for years, before he met this doctor. This was bound to happen, regardless of Dr. Murray's involvement. People seem to forget that Michael was a drug addict, lonf before he met up with this particular doctor.
MURRAY MURDER MICHAEL JACKSON. HE SHOULD NOT BE A LOUD TO BE A DOCTOR OR BE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. JAIL IS WERE HE BELONGS FOR A LONG TIME!!!!!
FINALLY! this should have happened ages ago!
Well, good! It's about time.