Dr. Conrad Murray Will Stand Trial for His Role in Michael Jackson's Death

Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson Trial

It's finally official. Dr. Conrad Murray was ordered by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter of pop music icon Michael Jackson.

After six hours of grueling testimony, including the tragic revelation that two of Jackson's children briefly watched as he lay dying, Murray plead not guilty as his attorneys continued to assert that he gave the entertainer nothing that should have killed him.

This was substantiated by witness Dr. Richard Ruffalo, who told the judge extensive, sophisticated equipment should have been present in the room, such as monitoring equipment for heart and lungs and resuscitation equipment.

"You need to know what you're doing with the expectation your patient will wake up quickly," Ruffalo said. "Even if you're using propofol for a short time, it can do a lot of unfortunate things, especially if mixed with other drugs."

Dr. Christopher Rogers, chief of forensic medicine for the Los Angeles County coroner, testified that propofol is only meant for hospital settings. Jackson had a strong heart and was mostly healthy, Rogers added.

"The care was substandard," Rogers said. "There were several actions that should have been taken."

Using Murray's phone records, testimony from police and Murray's current and former girlfriends to create a detailed timeline, prosecutors were able to prove that Murray was on the phone throughout the morning of Jackson's death on June 25, 2009.

So not only was the care fatal, it was unethical, and apparently Dr. Murray realized it.

Jackson's former bodyguard, Alberto Alvarez, testified that the doctor instructed him to place medicine vials in bags before calling 911 on the day Jackson died.

Detective Orlando Martinez testified that Murray described a nearly 10-hour ordeal of trying to get Jackson to sleep, allegedly giving him a valium pill and two other sedatives intravenously before yielding to the singer's demands for propofol.

Jackson called the powerful drug his "milk," and coroner's investigators discovered several vials of it in a bag labeled "Baby Essentials" in Jackson's closet.

The California Medical Board requested to suspend Murray's license to practice medicine in California, and Judge Pastor agreed, stating that enough evidence had been presented for a probable guilty verdict to be reached in trial.

The judge also ordered Murray to notify authorities in Texas and Nevada, where he also holds licenses, of his suspension and ignored pleas from his attorneys for leniency.

"If you do that, he's dead in the water. He has no practice anymore. His patients have no doctor," attorney Ed Chernoff said.

In last ditch desperation, the defense presented the possibility that Jackson had self-administered the final dose of propofol, causing his own death. Both expert witnesses dismissed this swiftly concluding that even if that had been the case, Jackson's death would still be a homicide because of Murray's actions.

Several of Jackson's siblings were on hand for the anticipated verdict.

"I'm happy so far," LaToya Jackson said while walking to her car. Randy Jackson thanked prosecutors while flashing a peace sign outside the courtroom.

Judge Pastor declined to increase Murray's $75,000 bail, rejecting prosecution arguments that there was risk he would flee. Murray's next hearing is Jan. 25 when he will set a trial date.

While I do not believe for one moment that Murray intended to kill Michael Jackson, it is clear that his weakness, need of approval, and most likely income, led to his horrible decision.

Hopefully, with this verdict, the Jackson family can begin to heal from the tragic, untimely loss of their legendary son.

Maybe, finally we all can.