Personal physician of Michael Jackson assures innocence

The accused of negligent homicide Michael Jackson, Conrad Murray, has rejected all allegations and reaffirmed his innocence in court.

26/01/2011

„Your Honor, I am an innocent man“, Michael Jackson's personal physician, Conrad Murray, told the Superior Court in Los Angeles. The physician is accused of having caused the death of the pop star by administering a mixture of anesthetics and sedatives.

Personal physician insists his innocence
In the context of the indictment, Conrad Murray, accused of careless killing of the pop stars, has risen in front of the Superior Court in Los Angeles „not guilty“ pleads, reports the US news channel „CNN“. The start of the process is scheduled for March 28th. The 57-year-old cardiologist has denied any responsibility for the death of Michael Jackson. However, after a six-day hearing with more than 20 witnesses, Judge Michael Pastor ruled in mid-January that the burden of proof against the former personal physician of the King of Pop was sufficient for a prosecution. At the request of the California Medical Council, the court also imposed an immediate ban on the profession of heart specialist, which, however, only applies to California.

In other US states, such as Nevada and Texas, Murray continues to work as a doctor and does so. The hearing in mid-January saw more than 20 witnesses, including a medical examiner who accused Murray of making medical mistakes and violating his due diligence. In addition, a pharmacist said Murray had ordered large amounts of the anesthetic, which is usually only used in surgery. In addition, the cardiologist is accused of alarming the ambulance more than one hour after the apparently lethal injection of the anesthetic Propofol. Michael Jackson died of an overdose of the anesthetic on 25 June 2009 at the age of 50. The singer's mother, Katherine Jackson, and brother Randy Jackson were also present at the Superior Court hearing.

Pacemaker and syringe with anesthetic led to death?
On March 28, the trial against the former personal physician of Michael Jackson will be opened, said Judge Michael Pastor, with a further hearing date in the run-up to February 7 to start with the selection of the jury. This leaves the doctor and his lawyers several weeks to prepare for the trial. Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, said that his client was also looking forward to a quick start to the process because the cardiologist was looking forward to it „to tell his side of the story“. Although the former personal physician of the King of Pop admitted that the singer had been given tranquilizers just before his death and then injected the anesthetic propofol, the dose had been far too low to induce cardiac arrest, Murray emphasized. Report „CNN“ According to the defense, the defense had requested that the main proceedings be started as quickly as possible.

Cardiologist faces imprisonment for up to four years
According to trial observers and prosecutors' estimates, after the jury is selected, the trial will take approximately four to six weeks, with the judge also considering allowing a live broadcast of the process to be filmed at the Superior Court in Los Angeles , Should Murray be found guilty by the court of the careless killing of the pop star, the cardiologist faces imprisonment of up to four years. For the physician, the death of his patient is extremely unpleasant not only because of the indictment. Because his salary as personal physician of the King of Pop allegedly amounted to approximately 150,000 euro monthly and he should supervise Jackson also during its planned concert row. Related to this would have been revenues that Murray could have done well. Because tax debts allegedly burden the cardiologist and he was already several times because of outstanding maintenance payments for his illegitimate children in court. Thus, not only is the resulting reputational damage extremely painful for the physician, the financial losses are likely to burden him. (Fp)

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Personal physician of Michael Jackson under indictment

Picture: Norbert Spittka