Jackson’s doctor guilty of his death

LOS ANGELES - Reuters

AFP photo

Michael Jackson’s personal doctor was found guilty on Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star’s drug-related death in 2009 but may not spend much time in jail.
Dr. Conrad Murray, 58, was led away in handcuffs after the jury in Los Angeles reached a unanimous verdict. Dozens of fans outside the court erupted in cheers and some burst into tears.
“Justice was served. Michael is with us,” said brother Jermaine.
Murray faces up to four years behind bars when he is sentenced on Nov. 29 but may spend only months in Los Angeles’ overcrowded cells.
Murray pleaded not guilty to giving the “Thriller” singer a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol, normally used in surgery, that was ruled the main cause of his death at the age of 50.
Prosecutors argued Murray was grossly negligent in administering the propofol to help Jackson sleep. Defense lawyers claimed Jackson delivered the fatal dose to himself.
Judge Michael Pastor said Murray was “now a convicted felon who has been deemed the causative factor in Jackson’s death.”
Pastor said the doctor should be detained before being sentenced to protect public safety.
Even if Murray is sentenced to the maximum four months, legal experts said involuntary manslaughter is not considered a serious felony in California law and carries a stipulation that only 50 percent of any sentence must be served behind bars.