Conrad Murray: Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Pleads Not Guilty

In a follow-up to a story we posted earlier today, Conrad Murray has been officially charged with involuntary manslaughter and has entered a plea of not guilty.

The documents were filed in court today by the Los Angeles District Attorney, who alleges Murray “did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson." Those are haunting words just to read, aren't they?

Meanwhile, the county coroner released his official findings at the hearing and there's no doubt about it: a lethal dosage of Propofol killed the singer. Eleven vials of the drug were found in Jackson's home, and none of had prescription directions, patient or doctor names.

According to the coroner's report, obtained by TMZ, homicide is cited as the cause of death because...

1. The setting of Jackson's bedroom (e.g.  a chair alongside the bed) indicate the drugs were not self-administered.
2. Propofol was injected in a non-hospital setting, without any appropriate medical indication.
3. Suggested equipment for patient monitoring, precision dosing and resuscitation were not present.

After the DA originally asked for bail to be set at $300,000, the judge set it at $75,000. He forced Murray to hand over his passport and decreed that the doctor cannot be in possession of, or prescribe, anesthetics.

If Murray is found guilty, he'll face a maximum of four years in prison.

Even if he's acquitted of these criminal charges, the family can sue Murray for millions, according to Bill Newkirk, a lawyer who specializes inmedical malpractice.

"This is absolutely a slam-dunk malpractice case simply because of the alleged use of propofol. If the drug was indeed in his system, no competent doctor could justify why it was used. You can bet the Jackson family will be filing a civil claim soon against any doctors implicated in Jackson's medical care."