Michael Jackson's doctor is sent for trial on death charge

Published on Tuesday 11 January 2011 23:34

A JUDGE has ordered the personal physician of Michael Jackson to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter over the death of the pop superstar.

The ruling against Dr Conrad Murray came last night after a six-day preliminary hearing in Los Angeles.

Authorities contend that Murray, 57, gave Jackson a lethal dose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol mixed with other sedatives, then failed to provide proper care.

Prosecutors concluded the hearing with testimony from two doctors who said Murray acted outside the standard of medical care.

Both witnesses said that, even if Jackson had self-administered the last dose of the anaesthetic, his death would be a homicide because of Murray's actions.

Dr Christopher Rogers, chief of forensic medicine for the Los Angeles County coroner, was questioned by a lawyer for Murray, who is charged with causing Jackson's death by administering a lethal dose of propofol and other sedatives and failing to provide proper care.

Murray has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers have said he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed him.

In court, Dr Rogers said: "Based on the quality of the medical care, I would still call this a homicide, even if the doctor didn't administer the propofol to Mr Jackson."

Dr Rogers said propofol should not have been present in the bedroom, because it is meant only for hospital settings and, "if there was propofol there, the doctor should have been prepared for the effects".