By
David GardnerLast updated at 12:31 PM on 09th February 2010
Jackson family brand singer's personal physician a 'murderer'
Father claims 'other people' were also involved in his son's death
Coroner's report details cocktail of drugs, including strong anaesthetic, pumped into singer's system
- Autopsy shows injection puncture marks in neck and upper thighs
Dr. Conrad Murray faces arraignment in the Los Angeles County Superior Airport Courthouse last night
Michael Jackson’s doctor last night pleaded not guilty to causing the pop star’s death at a brief hearing that had all the trappings of another sensational celebrity courtroom drama.
Dr Conrad Murray was accused of giving Jackson a fatal dose of an anesthetic to help him sleep as the singer's father Joe, mother Katherine, and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy watched from courtroom seats behind prosecutors.
Neither Murray nor the Jacksons showed any emotion as the plea was entered by his lawyer Ed Chernoff, but as he emerged from court, Joe Jackson declared: 'My son was murdered.'
'We need justice,' he added before leaving with family members in a fleet of SUVs.
On Monday night, Joe Jackson told CNN's Larry King that he doesn't believe Murray is the only person responsible for his son's death.
'To me, he's just the fall guy. There's other people I think involved with this whole thing,' Joe Jackson claimed, without elaborating.
Joe Jackson also told King his son believed his life was in danger. 'Michael said it himself that he would be killed,' he said. 'He even told his kids that he would be murdered.'
Immediately after the hearing, Latoya Jackson, issued a statement saying she believed her brother had been murdered and that others besides Murray were involved in his death.
'I will continue to fight until all of the proper individuals are brought forth and justice is served,' she said.
Earlier, several people shouted 'murderer' as Murray walked past a crowd of hundreds of reporters and Jackson fans on his way to a courthouse adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport. Others held signs urging 'Justice For Michael.'
Murray, 56, a Houston cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died on June 25, entered his plea just hours after he was charged.
We are family: Jermaine Jackson and his father, Joe, leave the courthouse after the hearing. Jackson Sr cl told reporters that Dr Murray should be facing murder charges over the death of his son
Fans point mobile phone cameras at LaToya Jackson as the Jackson family leaves the County of Los Angeles Airport Branch Courthouse last night
Superior Court Judge Keith L. Schwartz set bail at $75,000 (£48,000), three times more than the amount people normally face after being charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Murray posted it about two hours later and was released.
Outside court, Chernoff said that Murray plans to return to practicing medicine in Nevada and Texas while he awaits trial.
The judge ordered him to return to court on April 5 for a preliminary hearing.
He also warned Murray not to use general anesthesia on anyone while he is free on bail.
Deputy state Attorney General Trina Bell also told the judge the state Medical Board is planning to seek the suspension of Murray's medical licence. But the action would only affect his ability to practice medicine in California.
It appeared authorities were taking extra steps to ensure the arraignment did not become a media circus.
Michael Jackson fans protest outside the courthouse. People had began to gather outside the building hours before the accused medic arrived
Michael Jackson fans make their opinion clear outside the LA Airport courthouse. There were cries of 'murderer' as Dr Murray was escorted into the building by police
Lines were formed to gain admission to the courtroom, and the Jackson family was escorted in separately and seated before anyone else arrived.
Despite the precautions, the trial promises to be the focus of widespread attention, especially if the Jackson family continues to take a high-profile role.
Jackson, 50, hired Murray in May to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback performances.
Officials said the singer died in Los Angeles after Murray administered the powerful general anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.
Page five of the coroner's report details the cocktail of drugs in his system and shows injection puncture marks over his body, including his neck and upper thighs.
Murray is accused of the single felony count in a five-page complaint that said he 'did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson' by acting 'without due caution and circumspection.'
The full coroner's report was released after Dr Murray was charged. Left, page five of the report lists the cocktail of prescription drugs that were discovered in the singer's system. Right, the medical examiner description of Jackson's body - there were intravascular catheters in the neck and near his femurs
Left, the report sets out the scene of Jackson's death in chillingly detached detail. Right, the coroner makes his mark and concludes that the cause of Michael Jackson's death was homicide
The complaint contains no details on Jackson's death, but authorities have said the singer died after Murray administered the anesthetic and other drugs.
If convicted, the doctor could face up to four years in prison.
Known as 'milk of amnesia,' propofol is only supposed to be administered by an anesthesia professional in a medical setting because it depresses breathing and heart rate while lowering blood pressure.
Los Angeles investigators were methodical in building a case against Murray, wary of making mistakes that have plagued some other high-profile celebrity cases, most notably against former American football star O.J. Simpson.
When prosecutors filed their criminal complaint on Monday the coroner's office released its post mortem report on Jackson.
The document found the singer was in relatively good health and died from acute propofol intoxication.
Michael Jackson announces his comeback at a press conference at the O2 arena in London in 2009
Dr. Selma Calmes, an anesthesiologist who reviewed the autopsy report at the coroner's request, said the level of propofol in Jackson's body was akin to what would be given for major surgery.
After such a dose, a patient normally would have a tube inserted in the airway to help with breathing and be ventilated by an anesthesiologist.
'The standard of care for administering propofol was not met,' she wrote.
Court documents state Murray told police he administered propofol just before 11am then stepped out of the room to go to the bathroom.
There is some dispute about what happened next. According to court filings, Murray told police that upon his return from the bathroom, he saw Jackson was not breathing and began trying to revive him.
Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's doctor, is escorted by Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies as he arrives at the Airport Courthouse
Latoya Jackson released a statement claiming her brother was murdered. Right, the matriarch of the Jackson family, Katherine, who is now legal guardian to the pop superstar's children
But an ambulance was not called until 12.21pm and Murray spent much of the intervening time making non-emergency cell phone calls, police say.
The nature of the calls, which lasted 47 minutes, is not known.
Murray's lawyer has said investigators got confused about what Murray had told them, and that the doctor found his patient unresponsive around noon.
A large number of witnesses have been interviewed by police, including those who were present during Jackson's last days, those who worked with him in preparation for his series of comeback concerts, 'This Is It,' and members of his personal entourage, including his security guard and personal assistant.
The comeback concerts sold out in anticipation of Jackson's return as the 'King of Pop' after years of odd behavior and a lengthy molestation trial that had overshadowed a lifetime in music.
Despite years of self-imposed exile, he retained a huge, loyal following of fans overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him reclaim the glory he'd attained with albums like 'Thriller' and songs like 'Beat It!' and 'Billie Jean.'
