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Michael Jackson's physician, Conrad Murray, right, arrives
for his arraignment at the Airport Branch Courthouse in Los
Angeles Monday, February 8, 2010, where he is expected to
face involuntary manslaughter charges in Jackson's death.
Michael Jackson's personal physician pleaded not guilty
to involuntary manslaughter on Monday, setting the stage for a
sensational celebrity courtroom drama as prosecutors attempt to
prove Dr. Conrad Murray caused the pop star's death.
Some two hours after prosecutors filed the single felony
count, the six-foot-five Murray arrived in court in a grey
suit to enter his plea. As he did, several members of
Jackson's family looked on.
Superior Court Judge Keith L. Schwartz set bail at $75,000,
three times more than most people charged with involuntary
manslaughter face. Prosecutors had been seeking $300,000 bail
for Murray, who was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies
but not handcuffed.
According to a five-page criminal complaint, Murray "did
unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson"
by acting "without due caution and circumspection."
The complaint contains no details on Jackson's death but
authorities have said the singer died after Murray
administered a powerful general anesthetic and other drugs to
help Jackson rest.
As Murray walked past a crowd of hundreds of reporters and
Jackson fans on his way to a courthouse adjacent to Los
Angeles International Airport, several people shouted
"murderer."
Inside the courtroom, Jackson's father Joe, mother Katherine,
and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy sat
behind prosecutors as Murray entered his plea. He could face
up to four years in prison if convicted.
"Looking for justice," was all Jackson's father said as he
walked past a crowd of reporters and into the courthouse. He
and his family members had arrived in a fleet of Cadillac
Escalades soon after prosecutors announced Monday they had
brought the manslaughter charge.
The judge told Murray that after he posts bail he may travel
the country freely but may not leave the United States. He
must also surrender his passport.
Murray, who was with Jackson when he died June 25 at his
rented Los Angeles mansion, said he did nothing that should
have caused the 50-year-old entertainer to die.
"We'll make bail, we'll plead not guilty and we'll fight like
hell," his attorney, Ed Chernoff said before the charge was
filed.
Jackson hired Murray to be his personal physician as he
prepared for a strenuous series of comeback concerts in
London. Officials say the singer died after Murray
administered the powerful general anesthetic propofol and two
other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.
Known as "milk of amnesia," propofol is only supposed to be
administered by an anesthesia professional in a medical
setting because it depresses breathing and heart rate while
lowering blood pressure.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists warned in 2004 that
a doctor using propofol should have education and training to
manage anesthesia complications, be physically present
throughout sedation and monitor patients "without
interruption" for signs of trouble. Rescue equipment "must be
immediately available," it said.
