LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's doctor was convicted Monday of manslaughter in the death of pop star for the supply of insomnia-plagued Jackson with a powerful operating room anesthetic to help him sleep, as he rehearsed his big comeback.
Dr. Conrad Murray Sat with a straight face, his chin held high as he heard the verdict that could send him to prison for up to four years and cost him his license to practice medicine. He was handcuffed and taken immediately to jail without bail pending sentencing Nov. 29.
The verdict marked the latest chapter in one of the most shocking tragedies of popular culture - 2009 drug overdose death of the king of pop music at the age of 50 years, when he was about to mount a series of heavily promoted concerts in London that he hopes will turn his career around after a slide caused by the child molestation charges and years of odd behavior.
Cry broke the silence in the packed courtroom when the jury's decision was read out and the crowd outside the courthouse began in cheers. Jubilant fans sang Jackson «Beat It» and held banners reading "Guilty" and "Killer". Drivers honked their horns.
Jackson's family members wept, and his mother, Katherine Jackson, said: "I feel better." His sister La Toya said she was overjoyed and said:. "Michael looked at us"
Jurors were escorted from the building and not available for comment.
Lawyer Ed Chernoff said later in the day the verdict was disappointing and will be appealed. On the question, as Murray took the verdict, Chernoff said: "He's a very strong guy."
As for the future of Murray, he said: "The keys to the handcuffs belong to the judge. Of course, we want to do anything we can to keep him from going to jail."
The jury discussed at least nine hours after a six-week trial, which is portrayed as a tortured genius Jackson on the verge of what could be his greatest triumph is not one obstacle - an extreme insomnia.
Jackson's death marked the end of an incredible growth for the glory of his humble beginnings in Gary, Indiana, a tiny power singer and dancer with a magnetic smile enchanted the audience and improving Jackson Five to the top of the pop music world.
As a solo act adult, self-anointed King of Pop sold concerts and recordings led the cards with albums such as 1982 "Thriller", which remains the best-selling album of all time, with more than 100 million copies sold worldwide.
His public life, but eventually became a surreal depiction of paid celebrities. He went on wild spending sprees, married and divorced from Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe, and had three children, who were disguised in a mask, because he was afraid they were kidnapped.
When he was tried and acquitted of child molestation in 2005, Jackson appeared to fall apart, moving to the Middle East and other countries in search of new life.
Return of concerts in London his chance for redemption. Given the physical demands, he hired Murray as his personal physician.
Prosecutors portrayed the 58-year-old Murray, as an incompetent doctor who enter propofol - an extremely powerful anesthetic commonly used during the operation - in the bedroom of Jackson without adequate safeguards and failing to care when everything went wrong.
Murray, who did not testify, told police that he carried only a small dose of the day Jackson died. And his lawyers blamed Jackson for his own death, saying the singer gave himself an additional lethal dose while Murray was not looking.
According to prosecutors, that was a crazy theory, and in any case, in their opinion, Murray did not have to leave Jackson alone.
The jury was not asked to identify the Murray actually gave Jackson a lethal dose, but whether he was primarily responsible for the death of the singer.
Deputy District Attorney David Walgren expressed his condolences to the Jackson family, who "lost not pop icon, but a son and father."
In Las Vegas, a former patient and current Murray friend, Donna DiGiacomo, sobbed and told the jury under the "overwhelming pressure to convict."
"This man did not deserve this. They needed a scapegoat," said DiGiacomo, a former Long Island, NY, assistant teacher, who said he did not believe Murray did his best to intentionally harm Jackson.
Testimony came from medical experts, domestic employees and Murray's former friends, among others. The most shocking moments, however, came when prosecutors showed a great picture of a skinny, Jackson's lifeless body on a hospital gurney and played his drugs, slurred voice, as recorded Murray a few weeks before the singer's death.
Jackson spoke of his hopes of cementing the legacy of more than Elvis or the Beatles.
"We have to be phenomenal," he said of his "This Is It" concerts in London. "When people leave this show, when people leave my show, I want to say:" I've never seen anything like this in my life. Go. Go. I've never seen anything like it. Go. It's amazing. He is the greatest artist in the world. "
The thirst for sleep, Jackson sought a doctor who will give him intravenous propofol, which Jackson called it "milk" and it is believed that his salvation. Other doctors had refused him, according to testimony.
According to prosecutors, Murray gave up his medical report for a fee. According to testimony, Jackson planned to pay $ 150,000 to a cardiologist in a month long tour of Europe.
Murray gave up his practice in Houston and Las Vegas and agreed to go to Jackson and to become his personal physician for an indefinite period. Within six weeks, as Jackson had tense rehearsals, Murray gives him propofol every night, the doctor told police. He said he later tried to wean Jackson on drugs because he was afraid he would become addicted.
In the end, the doctor never paid a penny since Jackson died before signing a contract with Murray.
The circumstances of Jackson's death June 25, 2009, there were strange, like a chapter in the sensational story of life superstar.
In the last 24 hours of his life, Jackson sang and danced to a vigorous rehearsal, reveling in the adulation of fans who greeted him on the street. Evidence showed Murray gave Jackson intravenous doses of sedative lorazepam overnight and midazolam. Jackson also took valium tablets. But nothing seemed to bring a dream.
Finally, Murray told police he gave the singer a small dose of propofol - 25 milligrams - that seemed to put him to sleep. The doctor said that he felt it was safe to leave his bedside for a few minutes, but Jackson was not breathing when he returned. According to witnesses, he is likely to be dead at this point.
What happened next was disputed at trial. Security and maintenance personnel described as Murray in a panic, never calling 911, but Jackson is trying to give CPR to his bed, and not on a hard floor. The guard said Murray was engaged in packing and hiding the medicine bottle and IV equipment, before telling him to call 911.
There is no law prohibiting the manager of propofol and other sedatives. But expert witnesses for the prosecution stated that the use of propofol in the home without rescue equipment on hand was a flagrant deviation from the standard of care. Prosecutors called it gross negligence, the legal basis for involuntary homicide charge.
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