Michael Jackson's doctor sentenced to 4 years in jail

REUTERS

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, on Tuesday was sentenced to four years in jail and denied probation for his conviction on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's death.

"Thriller" singer 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.

Dr. 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.

In sentencing Murray on Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor called Murray's 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.