Earlier this week on February 8, a district attorney in L.A. filed a criminal complaint in which Dr. Conrad Murray, a personal physician to the pop star Michael Jackson, was indicted with involuntary manslaughter for "unlawfully, and without malice, killing Michael Joseph Jackson". The singer was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. on June 25, 2009.
Dr. Murray turned himself in and pleaded "not guilty" in front of Judge Keith L. Schwartz. The judge set the bail at US$75,000 without suspending the doctor's medical license. However, the judge ordered him to refrain from using any anesthesia on patients because Jackson overdosed on a combination of sedative drugs. The drugs were primarily propofol and lorazepam, which were given by Murray right before the time of his death.
In a statement issued by La Toya Jackson, one of the sisters of Michael Jackson, she accused that "Michael was murdered and although he died at the hands of Dr. Conrad Murray, I believe Dr. Murray was a part of a much larger plan." She went on to say, "There are other individuals involved and I will not rest until all of the proper individuals are brought forth and justice is served." No further elaboration on her statement was given.
Involuntary manslaughter means that the defendant caused the victim's death by acting "without due caution and circumspection," and the defendant, Dr. Murray in this case, may serve a maximum of four-years in prison, if convicted.
