Dr. Conrad Murray Pleads Not Guilty

Filed under: News, Interviews, Profiles

With the words, "I am an innocent man, your honor," Dr. Conrad Murray provided the opening verse in what promises to be the most-watched celebrity trial in years as Murray faces manslaughter charges in the death of Michael Jackson.

• Dr. Conrad Murray Faces Preliminary Hearing
• Dr. Conrad Murray's Defense Team to Claim Michael Jackson Killed Himself
• Dr. Conrad Murray Will Stand Trial for His Role in Michael Jackson's Death

Judge Michael Pastor ruled earlier this month that there was enough evidence to force Murray to stand trial which will start in late March.

Murray faces four years in prison if convicted.

If disclosures from the preliminary hearing are true, Murray may have an uphill battle showing he was a competent medical professional.

For example, during the frantic scene to revive Jackson, Murray allegedly asked if anyone present knew CPR. He also said that it was the first time he had given mouth-to-mouth to a patient, according to Faheem Muhammad, a Jackson security official who testified during the preliminary hearing.

Another potential problem for Murray comes in the timeline of Jackson's death. Murray waited 21 minutes before calling 911 and failed to tell paramedics he had given the performer propofol, a powerful anesthetic believed to have killed Jackson.

Prosecutors will likely hammer Murray with questions surrounding why he choose to call Jackson's personal assistant and send text messages instead of getting immediate aid for the stricken singer.

Murray will also have to fight against testimony provided by paramedic Richard Senneff, who testified he had a gut feeling that Murray wasn't telling the truth when asked about the circumstances of Jackson's death.

There is no debate the world lost a great entertainer June 25, 2009, when Jackson died.

There will be great debate starting March 28th to determine whether Dr. Conrad Murray was responsible.

He clearly has a lot of explaining to do.

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