Prison term urged for Jackson doctor
LOS ANGELES -- Prosecutors depicting Michael Jackson's doctor as remorseless over his death urged a judge Wednesday to sentence him to four years in prison, while a defense lawyer said Dr. Conrad Murray is in a prison of self-punishment and should receive probation.
The opposing memos were filed before Murray's sentencing hearing Tuesday. He has been in jail since he was convicted Nov. 7 of involuntary manslaughter for Jackson's fatal overdose of the anesthetic propofol.
Prosecutors David Walgren and Deborah Brazil wrote that Murray has shown no remorse for Jackson's death and has placed blame on others, including Jackson himself. They cited post-trial media interviews with Murray they submitted to Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor on a DVD. In one excerpt, Murray said, "I don't feel guilty because I did not do anything wrong."
Defense attorney Nareg Gourjian, citing letters of praise from 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."
Murray was convicted after six weeks of testimony focusing on his administration of the drug propofol, an anesthetic not intended for treatment of insomnia or for home use. While Jackson was under the influence of the drug, Murray admitted leaving the room, prosecutors said. They said he abandoned his patient when he was the most vulnerable.
