doctor's appointment: Physician denies killing Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's doctor has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the pop star's shock death.

Dr Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died at his rented Los Angeles mansion, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter when he appeared at Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday. He could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

Murray appeared in court in a grey suit as Jackson’s father Joe, mother Katherine and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy sat behind prosecutors.

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“Looking for justice,” was all Jackson’s father, Joe, had to say as he walked past a crowd of reporters and Jackson fans on his way into court.

The complaint said Murray acted “without the caution and circumspection required” when he administered a powerful sedative to the 50-year-old star in an effort to help him sleep.

Before the charge was filed, Murray’s attorney, Ed Chernoff, said: “We’ll make bail, we’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight like hell.”

Jackson had hired Murray as a personal physician while preparing for strenuous comeback concerts in London.

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Officials say the singer died after Murray administered the powerful anaesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.

Investigators were methodical in building a case against Murray, wary of repeating mistakes that have plagued some other high-profile celebrity cases, most notably OJ Simpson and actor Robert Blake, both of whom were acquitted of murder.

After reviewing toxicology findings, the coroner ruled Jackson’s death last June was a homicide caused by acute propofol intoxication, with other sedatives a contributing factor.

Propofol is only supposed to be administered by an anaesthesia professional because it depresses breathing and heart rate while lowering blood pressure.