Not guilty, says Jackson's doctor

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's personal physician pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter yesterday, setting the stage for a sensational courtroom drama as prosecutors attempt to prove Dr Conrad Murray caused the pop star's death.

About two hours after prosecutors filed the single criminal count, the 1.98m Murray arrived in court in a grey suit to enter his plea. As he did, several members of Jackson's family looked on.

Superior Court Judge Keith L. Schwartz set bail at US$75,000 ($108,750) - three times more than most people charged with involuntary manslaughter face. Prosecutors had been seeking US$300,000 bail for Murray, who was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies but not handcuffed.

According to a five-page criminal complaint, Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson" by acting "without due caution and circumspection".

The complaint contains no details about Jackson's death but authorities have said the singer died after Murray administered a powerful general anaesthetic and other drugs to help him rest.

As Murray walked past a crowd of hundreds of reporters and Jackson fans on his way to a courthouse near Los Angeles International Airport, several people shouted "murderer".

Inside the courtroom, Jackson's father, Joe, mother, Katherine, and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy sat behind prosecutors as Murray entered his plea. He could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

"Looking for justice," was all Jackson's father said as he walked past a crowd of reporters and into the courthouse. He and his family members had arrived shortly after prosecutors announced they had brought the manslaughter charge.

The judge told Murray that after he posts bail he may travel the country freely but may not leave the United States. He must also surrender his passport.

Murray, who was with Jackson when he died on June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion, said he did nothing that should have caused the 50-year-old entertainer to die.

Jackson hired Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback concerts in London.

Officials say the singer died after Murray administered the powerful general anaesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.

Known as "milk of amnesia", propofol is supposed to be administered only by an anaesthesia professional in a medical setting because it depresses breathing and heart rate while lowering blood pressure.

The American Society of Anaesthesiologists warned in 2004 that a doctor using propofol should have education and training to manage anaesthesia complications, be physically present throughout sedation and monitor patients "without interruption" for signs of trouble. Rescue equipment "must be immediately available", it said.

Los Angeles investigators were methodical in building a case against Murray, wary of repeating missteps that have plagued some other celebrity cases, notably O.J. Simpson and actor Robert Blake, both of whom were acquitted of murder.

After reviewing toxicology findings, the coroner ruled Jackson's death a homicide caused by acute intoxication from propofol, with other sedatives a contributing factor.

Murray appears to have obtained the drug legally and its use is not in itself a crime.

To show the doctor was negligent in his care, detectives spoke to more than 10 medical experts to see if his behaviour fell outside the bounds of reasonable medical practice.

- AP