Jackson's doctor faces trial probe hearing

Michael Jackson’s private doctor will appear in court today in a preliminary hearing to decide if he will stand trial for involuntary manslaughter over the King of Pop’s death.

The hearing in Los Angeles for Dr Conrad Murray, a Houston cardiologist who also has a clinic in Las Vegas, begins days after a prosecutor said he expected the defence to claim Jackson, 50, killed himself.

Murray, 57, had been hired to help Jackson prepare and to accompany him on his European comeback tour This Is It.

But Jackson died between rehearsals for the show and Murray is accused of gross negligence when he administered the powerful anaesthetic propofol, which the singer had been demanding to get to sleep.

The criminal case, with its expected focus on Jackson’s long-time prescription drug abuse, could undermine his estate’s efforts to rehabilitate the star’s image after his death on June 25, 2009.

Managers of the estate have sought to burnish his legend with the release of a concert movie using rehearsal footage from the ill-fated show. They also released a new album, 'Michael', featuring songs he left behind.

But evidence at the preliminary hearing is likely to open doors they preferred to keep closed.

In a last-minute twist, deputy district attorney David Walgren said he expected the defence to claim at a possible trial that sleep-starved Jackson killed himself by using a syringe to self-administer additional propofol when Murray left the room.

“I do think it’s clear the defence is operating under the theory that the victim, Michael Jackson, killed himself,” Mr Walgren said last week at a separate hearing.

“They don’t want to say it, but that’s the direction in which they are going.”

Defence lawyer Michael Flanagan refused to comment on the prosecutor’s remarks.

The issue is not expected to arise until trial because the defence does not plan to present any evidence during the preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors will argue that propofol is only supposed to be used in hospital situations for surgery and that patients given the drug must be constantly monitored.

Experts are expected to tell the hearing that it was reckless to administer the anaesthetic in a private home without proper equipment.

If convicted, Murray could face up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical licence.

Already in financial distress, he also faces a wrongful death lawsuit by Jackson’s father.

Murray has pleaded not guilty and his lawyer has said that nothing he did should have harmed Jackson.

An autopsy report found Jackson died from an overdose of propofol. In a statement to police, Murray acknowledged giving Jackson the drug and other sedatives to help him sleep then briefly leaving his bedside.

Mobile phone records show Murray made at least three personal calls around the time Jackson was stricken.

His lawyers are seeking tests of residue found in two syringes retrieved from Jackson’s bedroom – one attached to an intravenous bag and the other broken on the floor.

Thirty prosecution witnesses are due to give evidence at the two-week preliminary hearing before superior court judge Michael Pastor.

Also expected to attend are Jackson fans who have been a constant presence at previous court sessions with T-shirts, placards and buttons demanding “Justice for Michael”.