Conrad Murray Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter in Death of Michael Jackson
November 7, 2011 No Comments
Guilty
Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty and convicted for involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 death of Michael Jackson. It was an emotional scene in the Los Angeles courtroom, Monday, November 7, 2011, when the guilty verdict was read, convicting Conrad Murray of involuntary manslaughter. The judge then refused his bail, pending sentencing, despite pleading by Murray’s defense attorney, Ed Chernoff. Chernoff argued that Conrad Murray is not a danger to the community and should be granted bail until his sentencing on November 29th, but to no avail. Murray could face up to four years in prison.
As Michael jackson fans cheered on the guilty verdict, the Jackson family had more complex emotions. La Toya Jackson screamed out after the verdict was read, as family matriarch, Katherine Jackson, was crying and being consoled by her son, Jermaine Jackson.
Conrad Murray remained expressionless throughout the reading of the verdict, though some of Murray’s supporters expressed their sadness, shaking their heads and mouthing the word “no.”
An emotional six week trial was punctuated, according to Fox News, by “prosecutors display[ing] a large picture of Jackson’s gaunt, lifeless body on a hospital gurney and played the sound of his drugged, slurred voice, as recorded by Murray just weeks before the singer’s death.”
Describing Michael Jackson as having “severe insomnia” the defense attempted to portray Conrad Murray as simply trying to make his famous patient comfortable and to give him the ability to get sleep. “Testimony showed Murray gave Jackson intravenous doses that night of the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam. Jackson also took a Valium pill. But nothing seemed to bring sleep. Murray told police, he gave the singer a small dose of propofol, 25 milligrams, that seemed to put him to sleep. The doctor said he felt it was safe to leave his patient’s bedside for a few minutes, but Jackson was not breathing when he returned. (FOX News/AP)”
Crime Scene