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Jackson's doctor 'to be charged' Jackson's doctor 'to be charged'
(1 day later)
Michael Jackson's doctor is expected to be charged soon with the singer's involuntary manslaughter, US media reports say. Michael Jackson's doctor is expected in court on Friday to hear charges against him connected to the singer's death, the Associated Press has reported.
Dr Conrad Murray is in Los Angeles and would be happy to surrender to authorities if asked, his lawyer said. Dr Conrad Murray will make his first court appearance in Los Angeles, an anonymous source told the news agency.
If Dr Murray is charged, a judge would decide if he should then go on trial. Anonymous police officials also said prosecutors plan to charge the 56-year-old with involuntary manslaughter.
Michael Jackson's death, at the age of 50, in Los Angeles on 25 June last year was ruled as homicide, mainly caused by an anaesthetic. A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney said she could neither confirm nor deny the claims.
Dr Murray has always maintained he did not prescribe nor administer anything that should have killed Jackson. Involuntary manslaughter occurs when a death is the indirect result of negligence or recklessness.
Powerful anaesthetic If Dr Murray is charged, a judge would consider the evidence and decide whether Dr Murray should go on trial.
A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's office told the BBC that so far nothing had been filed against Dr Murray. Jackson died at his Los Angeles home on 25 June aged 50. His death was ruled as homicide, mainly caused by the powerful anaesthetic Propofol.
Several drugs were found in Michael Jackson's bodySeveral drugs were found in Michael Jackson's body
A cocktail of drugs - including sedatives Midazolam and Diazepam, the painkiller Lidocaine and the stimulant Ephedrine - were also detected in his body a coroner confirmed.
Dr Murray told police he had been giving Jackson Propofol as part of his treatment for insomnia, according to an affidavit made public in August.
But he has always maintained he did not prescribe nor administer anything that should have killed the singer.
Dr Murray's leading lawyer, Ed Chernoff, told Reuters news agency his client was in Los Angeles, saying: "If the cops want him he's not hiding. We'll be happy to surrender him and they know that."Dr Murray's leading lawyer, Ed Chernoff, told Reuters news agency his client was in Los Angeles, saying: "If the cops want him he's not hiding. We'll be happy to surrender him and they know that."
Mr Chernoff added: "I don't think they should be filing charges at all."Mr Chernoff added: "I don't think they should be filing charges at all."
Involuntary manslaughter occurs when a death is the indirect result of negligence or recklessness.
If he is charged, the doctor would face a hearing at which a judge would consider the evidence and decide whether Dr Murray should go on trial.
Jackson's death was primarily caused by the powerful anaesthetic Propofol, the Los Angeles coroner confirmed in August.
A cocktail of drugs - also including sedatives Midazolam and Diazepam, the painkiller Lidocaine and the stimulant Ephedrine - were detected in his body.
Dr Murray told police he had been giving Jackson Propofol as part of his treatment for insomnia, according to an affidavit made public in August.