Michael Jackson Death: Manslaughter Court Case

The doctor who was treating Michael Jackson when he died is facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Sky News asked LA defence attorney and former prosecutor Dmitry Gorin about how the court case will work.

What is a preliminary hearing?

A preliminary hearing is a process in California courts where the Government must demonstrate a “probable cause” that the defendant is guilty of the crimes with which they have been charged.
In effect, it is a mini-trial: the prosecution presents witnesses, who can then be cross-examined by the defence team.

This is an alternative to the grand jury process, where the prosecution presents its evidence in private to 12 men or women, who then determine whether the case is strong enough to go to a full jury trial.
In this case, the judge, not a grand jury, will decide whether the Government’s case has passed muster and proceeds to trial.

Click here for more Sky News on the Michael Jackson Case

Michael Jackson’s doctor to appear in court on manslaughter charge

A preliminary hearing begins on Tuesday in the case of Dr Conrad Murray, the personal physician to Michael Jackson who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the singer’s death.

The hearing, which is expected to last two weeks, is for Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor to determine if there is enough evidence to hold a full trial.
A total of 30 witnesses, mostly medical experts, are expected to be called as prosecutors attempt to show that Murray was responsible for the singer’s death from a prescription drug overdose on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50.
No members of the Jackson family will be called to give evidence during the preliminary hearing and there will be no defence evidence.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
He has admitted injecting Jackson with the powerful anaesthetic propofol to help him sleep on the night he died, but claims the amount was not enough to harm the singer.

Click here for more of Nick Allens article at the Telegraph

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