Jackson doctor gets four years

Michael Jackson’s former doctor has been jailed for four years, three weeks after being found guilty of killing the pop star.

Prosecutors who depicted Conrad Murray, 58, as remorseless for the superstar’s death urged the judge to sentence him to four years in prison, while a defence lawyer said Dr Murray was in a prison of self-punishment and should receive probation.

Dr Murray has been in jail since he was convicted on November 7 of involuntary manslaughter for Michael Jackson’s fatal overdose of the anaesthetic propofol.

Prosecutors said Dr Murray has shown no remorse for Jackson’s death and has placed blame on others, including Jackson himself.

They submitted a series of post-trial media interviews with Dr Murray on a DVD. In one excerpt, Murray states, “I don’t feel guilty because I did not do anything wrong.”

Defence lawyer Nareg Gourjian, citing letters of praise from Dr Murray’s former patients, said: “There is no question that the death of his patient, Mr Jackson, was unintentional and an enormous tragedy for everyone affected. Dr Murray has been described as a changed, grief-stricken man, who walks around under a pall of sadness.”

Dr Murray was convicted after six weeks of evidence focusing on his administration of propofol. While Mr Jackson was under the influence of the drug, Dr Murray admitted leaving the room, prosecutors noted. They said he abandoned his patient when he was the most vulnerable.

Mr Gourjian noted that, because of constant death threats, Dr Murray must be kept in solitary confinement, which is expensive.

Prosecutors included a claim of $100 million in losses because of Michael Jackson’s death and suggested that “appropriate restitution” from Dr Murray be ordered for Mr Jackson’s children.

Brian Parish, a lawyer for Michael Jackson’s family, told the judge that the family was not seeking revenge, but said they wanted a stiff sentence that served as a warning to opportunistic doctors.