Michael Jackson’s Doctor Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison
- Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:09pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The doctor who was convicted in the overdose death of Michael Jackson was sentenced to the maximum four years in prison Tuesday in a finale to the tormented saga of the King of Pop.
Dr. Conrad Murray sat stoically with his hands crossed as Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor repeatedly chastised him for what he called a “horrific violation of trust” while caring for Jackson.
“Dr. Murray created a set of circumstances and became involved in a cycle of horrible medicine,” the judge said. “The practice of propofol for medicine madness, which violated his sworn obligation, for money, fame prestige and whwatever else may have occurred.”
Pastor said one of the most disturbing aspects of Murray‘s case was a slurred recording of Jackson recovered from the doctor’s cell phone.
“That tape recording was Dr. Murray’s insurance policy,” Pastor said. “It was designed to record his patient surreptitiously at that patient’s most vulnerable point.”
Michael Jackson’s family told Pastor they were not seeking revenge but want the doctor who killed the superstar to receive a stiff sentence that serves as a warning to opportunistic doctors.
“The Bible reminds us that men cannot do justice, they can only seek justice,” the family said in a statement read by attorney Brian Panish. “That is all we can ask as a family, and that is all we ask for here.”
The statement went on to say, “We are not here to seek revenge. There is nothing you can do today that will bring Michael back.”
Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after a six-week trial that presented the most detailed account yet of Jackson‘s final hours but left many questions about Murray’s treatment of the superstar with an operating-room anesthetic as he battled chronic insomnia.
Lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff highlighted the accomplishments of Murray.
“I do wonder though to what extent the court considers the entirety of a man’s book of life, as opposed to one chapter,” he told the judge.
The doctor decided not to directly address the court.
Chernoff again attacked Michael Jackson, as he and his team frequently did during the doctor’s trial.
“Michael Jackson was a drug seeker,” Chernoff said.
Jackson’s death in June 2009 stunned the world, as did the ensuing investigation that led to Murray being charged in February 2010.
Murray told detectives he had been giving the singer nightly doses of propofol to help him sleep as he prepared for a series of comeback concerts. Propofol is supposed to be used in hospital settings and has never been approved for sleep treatments, yet Murray acknowledged giving it to Jackson then leaving the room on the day the singer died.
Murray declined to testify during his trial but did opt to participate in a documentary in which he said he didn’t consider himself guilty of any crime and blamed Jackson for entrapping him into administering the propofol doses. His attorneys contended throughout the case that Jackson must have given himself the fatal dose when Murray left the singer’s bedside.
In their sentencing memorandum, prosecutors cited Murray’s statements to advocate that he receive the maximum term. They also want him to pay restitution to the singer’s three children – Prince, Paris and Blanket.
It’s unlikely that Murray can pay any sizable sum, including the $1.8 million cost of his funeral. He was deeply in debt when he agreed to serve as Jackson’s personal physician for $150,000 a month, and the singer died before Murray received any money.
Prosecutors said the relationship of Jackson and Murray was corrupted by greed. Murray left his practices to serve as Jackson’s doctor and look out for his well-being, but instead acted as an employee catering to the singer’s desire to receive propofol to put him to sleep, prosecutors said.
“The defendant has displayed a complete lack of remorse for causing Michael Jackson’s death,” prosecutors wrote in a filing last week. “Even worse than failing to accept even the slightest level of responsibility, (Murray) has placed blame on everyone else, including the one person no longer here to defend himself, Michael Jackson.”
Murray’s attorneys are relying largely on 34 letters from relatives, friends and former patients to portray Murray in a softer light and win a lighter sentence. The letters and defense filings describe Murray’s compassion as a doctor, including accepting lower payments from his mostly poor patients.
“There is no question that the death of his patient, Mr. Jackson, was unintentional and an enormous tragedy for everyone affected,” defense attorneys wrote in their sentencing memo. “Dr. Murray has been described as a changed, grief-stricken man, who walks around under a pall of sadness since the loss of his patient, Mr. Jackson.”
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ICANHANDLETHETRUTH
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 6:50pmAwwww poor wittle guy………. Who in their right man would give someone those kinds of drugs ?????? I think he got off easy !!
Report Post »swden
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 6:41pmThe Doctor had no intgerity because of his actions to continue the drugs.However, if it had not been this DR it would have been another.The Doctor should have NO jail time.Drugs were Michael’s life.
Report Post »mikeakasleeper
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 5:37pmHe was sentenced to jail NOT prison. He will be serving his time in jail. And reports of overcrowding and his good time, who knows how much of this he will do. It may be only 1-2 years. So he is getting off light. The loss of his medical license is the bigger punishment to him.
Report Post »Bronx
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 4:57pmIf you give someone a car and they get into a car wreck should you go to jail…? And why isn’t any of his sisters or brothers not in jail for the same thing as this doctor..?
Report Post »7thAvatar
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 4:32pmIn respect to mentally tormented Michael, fate intervened where human justice failed. Such people usually self-destruct. A sad commentary on our increasingly sick society.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 4:17pmHOLLYWOOD Justice!
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:41pmThat judge was a pin head !!!. I did not think he would ever shut up ? The doctor made a mistake . He should of got probation not jail time ? He did the world a favor getting rid of that FREEK.
Report Post »h20sue
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:36pmThe SOB should be serving LIFE! He knew better, but didn’t give a rats butt about Michael, only his MONEY. As much as I would love to say, he’s the only person that is capable of this, there are oodles, just like him…living in this country…. just never got caught! I suspect it may open a few eyes, especially plastic surgeons….
Report Post »Not only are our politicians back scratching, so are doctors, taking (kick backs) to provide only certain drugs to patients (by pharmacuitical companies). It’s been going on for years and continues. Just like welfare scams! Wake up America! How many of you, who have recently visited your family doctor, receiving “samples” to make certain what they are prescribing work, before you buy? I would be willing to bet….“none”. I think these days are also over! $$$$$$$
hineni
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:58pmJackson was a self-medicating addict who hired Murray to keep him comfortable. Murray did his job.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 4:05pmBut the true criminal, drug addict/serial child molester got the death penalty. Boo hoo hoo…. Conrad Murray was a bankrupt loser, if that freak didnt get drugs from him he would have got them from someone else…. Period.
Report Post »jamestoms
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:23pmHey that dude dosen’t deserve that, Jackson wasn’t worth 4 yrs, not 4 minutes.
Report Post »mamabearCali
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:51pmMicheal Jackson had been committing slow suicide for years. This doc was just the last straw along the way. Not saying that he acted appropriately–I agree with the verdict. Just that Jackson himself was equally culpable in his own death. I am very sorry for the children. As strange as he was, he was still their daddy and to lose him is/was terrible.
Report Post »hineni
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 4:01pmDo you really think kids should be around an drug addicted father? They’re much better off without him.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:42pmJackson was a drug addict (and an addict in general) – Mr. Murray was only one of Jackson’s many suppliers.
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:33pm343 days until we have a president again … but who’s counting ?
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:03pmLindsey Lohan would have got 2 hours. Racist!
Report Post »cwbyway102
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:55pmHe’s not going to prison because a new California law The Realignment Act of 2011 prevents judges from sending people to prison for a multitude of crimes,Involuntary Manslaughter being one of them.So he will do possibly a couple months in the county jail.We all saw how long Lindsey Lohan was in jail for after her sentencing.A few hours?
Report Post »California is so pathetic!
capecodsully
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:51pmIs that two months in California prison time or two weeks?
Report Post »Jackson was a junkie who committed slow suicide, he was rich enough to hire a slime ball doctor to help him do it. I feel sorry for the children he was selfish enough to have under those conditions.
PATRIOTGRUNT
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:44pmAnd why should we care ?.
Report Post »ZAP
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:29pmWhat are you?Her pimp.
Report Post »Chappy123
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:26pmJail!!! Why is Conrad not headed for a prison?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:30pmThe judge explained that a new law prevents him from sentencing him to prison for certain crimes, and this was one of those crimes. Just more government crap they inject into the system.
Report Post »HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:40pmHave the riots started in LA yet?
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:14pmI guess the courts only take things seriously when famous people are involved. more of that selective justice at work
Report Post »autigers2010champs
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:14pmHe is the first black man sentenced in LA for killing a white woman that I can remember of. O.J. he killed a white woman and got away with it.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:38pmIt could be considered an assisted suicide. On the other hand, just more black on black crime.OR two birds with one stone.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:12pmJust beat it.
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