Jackson doctor's lawyer negotiates surrender

A statement from attorney Ed Chernoff said he is holding talks with the district attorney's office for the surrender of Dr Conrad Murray.

Law enforcement officials have told reporters that prosecutors plan to charge Dr Murray with involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson a powerful anaesthetic that led to his death from a drugs overdose in June.

Dr Murray maintains that nothing he gave Jackson should have killed him.

"When the agreement is complete we will report further," said Mr Chernoff.

Miranda Sevcik, a spokeswoman for Dr Murray and Mr Chernoff, declined further comment.

Dr Murray has not been charged yet, but is set to be arraigned today at a Los Angeles courthouse, said a person familiar with the planning.

The possible charge was not disclosed.

Jackson died at a rented mansion on the west side of Los Angeles.

Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney, would not confirm nor deny that Dr Murray would appear this afternoon at the courthouse.

Dr Murray, who has a practice in Houston, went to Los Angeles last weekend and has been discussing legal strategy with his team of defence lawyers.

Police have been investigating Dr Murray since Jackson's death aged 50.

The doctor told detectives he would given the singer a powerful anaesthetic and other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac star to sleep.

Jackson died soon after one dose od drugs and investigators have been gathering evidence to try to show Dr Murray was negligent in administering the drugs.

Dr Murray maintains that nothing he gave the singer should have killed him.

On Wednesday, a judge in Las Vegas found Dr Murray in default on a nearly $132,000 (82,500) debt related to office medical equipment and services.

The doctor had no lawyer in the case.

He has long-standing personal and professional debts, and faced a near repossession last summer on his Las Vegas country club home.