Michael Jackson's personal doctor pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter Tuesday, as the date was set for his trial for allegedly killing the pop icon in June 2009. Conrad Murray is to stand trial on March 28 on charges he gave Jackson an overdose of a powerful sedative, a judge ruled after an arraignment hearing at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
"Your honor, I am an innocent man. I therefore plead not guilty," Murray told Michael E. Pastor, shortly after the trial date was set following six days of preliminary hearings earlier this month. His lawyer, Ed Chernoff, added: "Dr Murray is looking forward to the opportunity to finally tell his side of the story .. Dr Murray has absolute faith in the jury system." A prosecution spokeswoman voiced confidence that the accusations against Murray would be proven.
"The prosecution will be able to produce evidence that will fully support the charge against Dr Murray," said Sandi Gibbons of the office of the Los Angeles county district attorney. Murray, who claims he was just administering an insomnia treatment when the singer died in June 2009, pleaded not guilty after preliminary hearings found enough evidence against him to stand trial. He could face up to four years in jail and permanently lose his doctor's license if he is convicted.
The doctor had his license to practice medicine in California suspended after six days of pre-trial hearings, which included evidence that Murray tried to cover up giving Jackson an overdose of the drug propofol. A Jackson fans' group leader welcomed the fact that Murray will stand trial, but said it should be for murder. "We're pleased that the judge has ordered him to stand trial ... but we believe that there is enough evidence that Conrad Murray should be charged with murder," said Geraldine Hughes of fan group The Jackson Truth.
"We're outraged that the charge is still involuntary manslaughter." Jackson's death shocked the entertainment world and triggered intense debate over the performer's health in the run-up to London concerts, known as the "This is It" tour. Prosecutors allege that Murray, 57, "abandoned his patient" after administering the propofol some time between 10:40 am and 11:00 am to help Jackson sleep, and then tried to cover it up after the singer's death.
Murray acknowledged that he had used propofol to treat Jackson's chronic insomnia, but insisted that on the day of the 50-year-old singer's death he administered only a small amount of the drug that should not have been fatal. His defence team has suggested that Jackson could have effectively killed himself on June 25, 2009, by administering an extra dose of propofol while Murray was out of the room. On the last day of pre-trial hearings a forensic expert testified that Jackson's death was a homicide, saying the singer was in generally good health on the day when he died at his Los Angeles mansion.
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