Prosecutors who claimed Michael Jackson’s doctor showed no remorse over the pop star’s death have urged the judge to sentence him to four years in prison.
But a defence lawyer said Conrad Murray was in a prison of self-punishment and should receive probation.
The opposing sentencing memos were filed in advance of Dr Murray’s sentencing hearing in Los Angeles next Tuesday.
Dr Murray has been in jail since he was convicted on November 7 of involuntary manslaughter for 50-year-old Michael Jackson’s fatal overdose of the anaesthetic propofol in June 2009.
Prosecutors David Walgren and Deborah Brazil wrote that Dr Murray, 58, had shown no remorse for Michael Jackson’s death and had blamed others, including the singer himself.
They cited a series of post-trial media interviews with Dr Murray that they submitted to superior court judge Michael Pastor on a DVD.
In one excerpt, Dr Murray states: “I don’t feel guilty because I did not do anything wrong”.
The prosecution brief said: “Finally, the defendant consistently blames the victim for his own death, even going so far as to characterise himself as being ‘entrapped’ by the victim and as someone who suffered a ‘betrayal’ at the hands of the victim.”
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 since the loss of his patient, Mr Jackson.”
Mr Gourjian said Dr Murray would never stop punishing himself over Michael Jackson’s loss and, “in effect, he will be serving a form of life sentence.
“However, the offense was not wilful nor intended. ... He is, by every account, immensely sorrowful and remorseful.”
Mr Gourjian asked the judge to consider Dr Murray’s humble beginnings in Trinidad and his lengthy career of doing good during his practice in Houston, Texas.
“The transgression for which he is to be judged should be viewed within the context of the larger life of which it is a part,” he said.
He also argued in his 45-page memo that current budgetary problems and overcrowding of prisons has made it necessary to release non-violent, non-dangerous offenders.
“Dr Murray is clearly such a defendant,” he said.
Mr Gourjian noted that because of constant death threats, Dr Murray must be kept in solitary confinement, which is expensive.
“Conrad Murray still has the knowledge, capacity and motivation to be a source of healing in the world,” Mr Gourjian wrote.
“Though he will perhaps not again be a doctor ... he could educate and counsel patients about heart care and disease prevention.”
He suggested this as a form of community service by the doctor.