Michael Jackson's physician, Conrad Murray, has been sentenced to four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter over the singer's 2009 death.
In sentencing Murray today, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor called his actions "money for medicine madness that is simply not acceptable to me." Murray sat in his chair, dressed in a gray suit and purple paisley tie, and did not express any emotion.
The judge denied any probation for Murray.
Prosecutors had depicted Murray (58) as remorseless for the superstar’s death had urged the judge to sentence him to four years in prison, while a defence lawyer said Murray was in a prison of self-punishment and should receive probation.
Murray has been in jail since he was convicted on November 7th of involuntary manslaughter for Jackson’s fatal overdose of the anaesthetic propofol.
Jackson died of a drug overdose in June 2009, principally from the use of the surgical anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid. That drug had been obtained and administered to Jackson by Murray at the singer's rented home.
Earlier this month, a jury convicted Murray of involuntary manslaughter, or gross negligence, in his treatment of Jackson after witnesses testified propofol should not be administered at home and, even if it is, it must be given only with the proper life-monitoring equipment on hand. It was not.
Murray had agreed to care for Jackson ahead of the singer's planned comeback concerts in London, and had negotiated a salary of $150,000 per month to care for the singer.
Prosecutors said Murray has shown no remorse for Jackson’s death and has placed blame on others, including Jackson himself.
They submitted a series of post-trial media interviews with Murray on a DVD. In one excerpt, Murray states, “I don’t feel guilty because I did not do anything wrong.”
Agencies