Los Angeles – A two-year legal battle that was responsible for the sudden death of Michael Jackson came to a tragic end Monday when a California jury that Dr. Conrad Murray guilty of murder.
Dr. Murray seemed to show no emotion as the verdict was read by the clerk of court Sammi Benson, but La Toya Jackson, sister of pop icon, let out a loud cry, but short.
A loud party broke out between Jackson fans outside the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, where emotions became so high at least one woman fainted.
Murray was handcuffed and led away by deputies after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor denied bail.
“This is not a crime involving a miscalculation. … It was a crime in which the end result was the death of a human being,” the pastor said, explaining his decision to remand for Murray. “This factor dramatically demonstrates that the public should be protected.”
Sentencing was set for November 29, with Murray faces four years in prison if convicted.
Defense attorney Ed Chernoff, told CNN the right of the task team’s defense is now to prepare for sentencing and limit the amount of time that Murray is going to jail.
“The most important thing now is trying to keep Dr. Murray to occupy a jail cell in this community,” said Chernoff. “That’s what we’re focusing on right now and we will face a call after that.”
When asked if he was surprised by the verdict, Chernoff said, “No.”
Murray was the personal physician of Michael Jackson in Jackson ready for his comeback concerts Murray providing surgical anesthesia propofol to help him sleep almost every night for the last two months of his life, according to testimony.
Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009, was caused by “acute intoxication of propofol” in combination with two sedatives, the county coroner of Los Angeles has ruled.
The verdict followed about nine hours of jury deliberations, which began Friday morning in downtown Los Angeles County Courthouse.
County of Los Angeles, Steve Cooley, District Attorney thanked the jury “for their hard work and careful deliberation,” and expressed the thanks that have recognized the “majority” of the evidence against Murray to condemn.
Attorney Michael Walgren personally expressed his condolences to the Jackson family who lost said “there is a pop icon, but a son and a brother.”
Fans gathered outside the courthouse before the verdict with signs of support for Jackson, including a banner that read: “We miss Michael.” The crowd began to hold a word of the sentence came to them, singing “Rest in peace.” Moving touching the cars, people close embraced, cried and shouted for joy.
An emotional La Toya Jackson, on Monday thanked everyone involved in the study, calling the decision a “victory.”
“Everyone was wonderful,” said La Toya Jackson HLN Jane Velez-Mitchell as he left the court in Los Angeles.
Crowd erupted in jubilation
The seven men and five women on the jury heard 49 witnesses during 23 days, including Murray and patients girlfriends, former employees of Michael Jackson, researchers and medical experts for each side.
A statement released by Jackson’s estate, said Monday that “justice has been done.”
Defense lawyers argued that the case was a malpractice case should be heard by the state medical board.
“If it were someone else, but Michael Jackson, the doctor would be here today?” lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff asked in closing.
Jurors were left to decide whether the overdose of propofol was infused into the blood of Michael Jackson by a constant intravenous drip, and the prosecutor, or d Jackson syringe was injected near the left by Murray, the defense said.
“It was just a small fish in a big dirty pond,” Chernoff said, pointing to other doctors who treated Jackson and Jackson himself.
Deputy Public Prosecutor David Walgren attacked the defense to try to blame “everyone but Conrad Murray, poor Conrad Murray.”
“If we have more time to talk, I’m sure you’ll find a way to blame the son of Michael, Prince,” Walgren said in his closing rebuttal.
Walgren Murray painted as a selfish doctor agreed to take $ 150 000 per month to give Jackson propofol infusions night at his home, prosecutors argued in a sort of medical ethics would never do it because of the dangers.
Murray license to practice medicine is suspended, according to the California Medical Board, which decides whether a physician can legally work in the state.
In light of the conviction, the Board will now begin an investigation to determine if they have full right to revoke Murray to practice medicine in the state, said spokeswoman Jennifer Simoes said.
The main criteria in the decision to revoke, suspend or take other action against any physician is to assess how significant a crime is related to the practice of medicine. There is no timetable for the Council to act in Murray, said Simoes.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/07/justice/california-conrad-murray-trial/index.html?hpt=us_c2
