Michael Jackson Suicide to be Dr. Conrad Murray's Defense?
Michael Jackson never did anything like the average citizen. It makes sense then that the doctor charged in his death would also get unique treatment in court.
Dr. Conrad Murray served as Jackson's personal physician to the hefty price tag of $150,000 a month. His court hearing scheduled for tomorrow, which normally lasts 1 day with 2 witnesses, could feature as many as 35 witnesses and last 2 weeks. No real surprise there.
Charged with involuntary manslaughter, Conrad Murray's initial hearing concerns whether the prosecution has enough evidence to present a viable case against the doctor. Many observers believe the doctor's most likely defense will be that Michael Jackson committed suicide by injecting himself with a large (and ultimately fatal) amount of a drug.
According to the Los Angeles Times, scheduled witnesses range from medical experts to security guards to family members. "We have to be able to prove the elements of the crime and merely calling the coroner to say someone died is not proving a crime," Sandi Gibbons, of Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, told the Times.
Conrad Murray, 57, faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the crime. The prosecution will not be required to prove the elements of involuntary manslaughter at the preliminary hearing. Rather, the prosecution is only required to show that there is "sufficient cause" that the defendant may be guilty of the charges against him. In this case, the world will get glimpse into the high-profile trial including hearing from many key witnesses for the first time. How much the Michael Jackson suicide defense will play in the hearing is still hard to say.
Related Resources:
- Conrad Murray Hearing Begins (KTLA)
- Conrad Murrary Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)
- Preliminary Hearing (FindLaw)