Close to eight months following the death of the king of pop due to “acute Propofol intoxication,” the singer’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray has been arrested for involuntary wrongful death by the LA District Attorneys office with regard to the doctors role in Michael Jackson’s unexpected death on June 25th, 2009, CNN reports.
In a press release, the D.A.’s office writes that Dr. Conrad Murry “did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson … in the commission of an unlawful act, not a felony; and in the commission of a lawful act which might have produced death, in an unlawful manner, and without due caution and circumspection.” If found guilty, Murray faces a maximum of four years in prison.
Michael Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide after a toxicology report determined the potent sedative Propofol along with other sedatives ultimately caused Jackson to go into cardiac arrest.
Detectives have long accused Dr. Murray of utilizing “gross negligence” in administering Propofol to Jackson, since the sedative is supposed to be used strictly in hospital settings for patients recovering from surgical treatment.
In interviews with police, Murray admitted giving Propofol to Michael to help with his insomnia after the singer himself asked for the sedative, which he called “milk” as a result of of its cloudy white appearance.
Charges were predicted to be filed last week in the case, but a conflict between the DA’s office and the Los Angeles Police Department delayed the charges until today.
Dr. Conrad Murray entered the Airport Court in LA to surrender to the LAPD just prior to 1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, where he was arraigned on the involuntary wrongful death charge. Dr. Murray pleaded not guilty to the charges.
TMZ reports bail was set at $75,000, three times the normal bail in a case such as this. Prosecutors at first sought bail of $300,000 since Conrad Murray was born outside the united states and might be regarded as a flight risk. Murray had to turn in his passport as part of the terms of his bail arrangement.
Members of Michael Jackson’s family were in attendance for the arraignment. According to the District Attorney’s press release, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren will prosecute the case.
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