Jackson medic denies manslaughter

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Michael Jackson’s former doctor has denied a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the singer’s death, at a court in Los Angeles.

Dr Conrad Murray is expected to be bailed after pleading not guilty to "unlawfully, and without malice, killing Michael Joseph Jackson".

A judge must decide whether to proceed to trial. A conviction could bring a jail term of up to four years.

Jackson died at his home last June at the age of 50.

His death was ruled as homicide, mainly caused by the anaesthetic Propofol.

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.

Prosecutors filed one count of involuntary manslaughter.

Members of Michael Jackson’s family, including father, Joe, several brothers and sister LaToya, were in court where Dr Murray arrived shortly before 1300 local time (2100 GMT).

When asked by a reporter what he thought about Dr Murray being charged with involuntary manslaughter, Michael Jackson’s brother, Jermaine, said simply: "It’s not enough".

Joe Jackson said only "looking for justice".

Legal fight

Dr Murray had been hired to be Jackson’s personal physician last spring as the singer prepared for his comeback concerts in London.

We’ll make bail, we’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight like hell Ed Chernoff Lawyer for Dr Conrad Murray Profile: Dr Conrad Murray

He 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 neither prescribed nor administered anything that should have killed the singer.

After a week of speculation over the manslaughter charge, Dr Murray had been expected to surrender to authorities last Friday.

But a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles district attorney said the office had decided to delay action until Monday.

The statement came after several days of negotiations, where Dr Murray’s lawyers tried to arrange for him to surrender to prosecutors in an attempt to avoid him being handcuffed and arrested.

Dr Murray was not handcuffed as he arrived in court.

Speaking before the charges were filed, the physician’s defence lawyer, Ed Chernoff, said the doctor was prepared for the legal battle ahead.

"We’ll make bail, we’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight like hell," he said.

The charge follows months of careful investigation, with prosecutors said to be keen to avoid an unsuccessful high-profile prosecution like that of former football star OJ Simpson.

Originally from Grenada, Dr Murray moved to the US and trained as a doctor.

In 2000, he opened his own practice in Las Vegas, expanding with a second clinic in Houston in 2006.

However, he encountered financial difficulties and reports suggest he filed for bankruptcy in 2002 while living in California.

Jackson hired the physician on a salary of more than $150,000 (£96,000) a month in May 2009.