Dr. Conrad Murray

A cash-strapped Conrad Murray is asking for court-appointed attorney for his appeal process, and doesn't seem to be enjoying his jail experience so far.

Not that anyone would, but this is an extreme case, he says.

Murray's previous attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, is outraged and says that "it is crazy and unbelievable how [the sheriffs] are treating" Murray in jail. 

Flanagan says after waiting for over an hour to visit Murray, he arrived with his feet and hands cuffed, then was shackled to the table for their meeting.

"I've never seen something like this before," for someone serving this crime, the attorney says, adding that his cell is next to a guy in jail for a gang murder. 

Murray filed an appeal yesterday. Michael Jackson's former doc stated that he is "indigent and respectfully requests the appointment of counsel on appeal."

He was convicted last month of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 death of Michael Jackson and was ordered to serve four years in a L.A. County jail.

He intends to appeal his conviction, but does not have an attorney to work with to argue his case. Flanagan says he personally doesn't handle appeals.

Flanagan says he has offered advice about who should represent Murray, but says, "Whoever does it has a big undertaking" with all the evidence involved.

Given how his a$$ was handed to him at trial, that's putting it mildly.

Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson's death, but the late singer's former dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein is under investigation by the Medical Board of California for his past treatment of his famous patient.

Klein has been accused - by Murray and others - of fueling MJ's addiction to prescription painkillers, and has been subpoenaed by the Board for questioning.

He just posted a letter on Facebook, apparently sent from his ex-lawyer, showing that officials are probing allegations that Klein over-prescribed Demerol.

The Board reportedly wants to grill Klein about the possibility that he self-prescribed narcotics, used false names on narcotics prescriptions, illegally handed out samples of dangerous drugs to his famous patients such as Michael Jackson.

By doing so, Klein, who has multiple sclerosis, may have committed gross negligence.

Also rumored to be the biological father of Prince and Paris Jackson, Klein has always strongly denied any wrongdoing and is not accused of any criminal conduct.

Time will tell if that changes and/or if the board takes any disciplinary action.

Following the maximum four-year sentence handed down on him this week, Dr. Conrad Murray has filed an appeal to challenge his conviction for manslaughter.

Murray, as you almost know, was implicated in the death of Michael Jackson and was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter this fall after an exhaustive case.

The embattled physician filed the document in pro per, which means he's representing himself instead of using a lawyer. In his trial, he used multiple lawyers.

Dr. Conrad Murray Sentencing

On the portion of the document where a lawyer will usually state his or her firm's contact info, Murray lists "Men's Central Jail" and includes his booking number.

While he is representing himself in the appeal, Murray is still communicating with one of the lawyers who repped him in the manslaughter trial, Nareg Gourjian.

Gourjian says of his chances, "This case presents a gold mine of issues for any appellate lawyer. Dr. Murray is confident the Court of Appeal will vindicate him."

Mmmyeah. Not so sure there. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, not murder, and four years in jail seems fair. Some say it's not long enough.

The prosecution also provided so much evidence linking Jackson's death to Murray's medical misconduct that it's hard to see the jury's verdict being thrown out.

Did Dr. Conrad Murray receive a fair sentence?

Despite its role in earning him a four-year prison sentence, Dr. Conrad Murray doesn't regret for a second filming the now-infamous documentary about his trial.

In said documentary, he said he didn't regret his actions because he didn't do anything wrong ... a jury disagreed and convicted him of involuntary manslaughter.

The making of the film, which was released after Murray's conviction but before his sentencing, in the Michael Jackson death trial, infuriated Judge Michael Pastor.

Murray's lawyers freely admit he needed the money, but the Conrad Murray documentary was made primarily so that the public could hear his side of the story.

Maybe he should've tried testifying trial OR sentencing then. Eh, whatever.

The 56-year-old physician told friends and family that he knew he was going to get the maximum sentence, and that the documentary didn't play a role.

Thus, it didn't bother him that Pastor lambasted him over the things he said in the film, in particular, trashing MJ and not taking blame for his actions.

Moreover, Murray is "surprisingly upbeat" about the sentence, telling a friend, "I'm just relieved it's over," adding, "Don't worry, I'm fine, I'll be out soon."

Too soon, according to Michael's family.

Dr. Conrad Murray was sentenced to four years behind bars today, the longest possible prison term for involuntary manslaughter. Needless to say, Michael Jackson's family is adamant that he deserves every day of that sentence, and then some.

His mother, Katherine Jackson, made that abundantly clear in recent weeks.

In Murray's official Probation Report, Katherine lashes out at Murray for his documentary, in which he lays blame on Michael and denies any wrongdoing.

Katherine feels Murray's four-year sentence is "insufficient."

The report says, "During filming, he repeatedly stated that he did nothing wrong. Ms. Jackson feels this adds insult to injury, and shows he is clearly not remorseful."

The Jackson family matriarch also says she's "deeply insulted" that on the anniversary of Michael's death, Murray arranged to be photographed at the cemetery.

Michael's parents, siblings and children issued a joint statement begging Judge Michael Pastor to make Conrad Murray pay for his crime, which he did today.

At the same time, the family insists revenge is not their motive.

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Judge Michael Pastor just sentenced Dr. Conrad Murray to the maximum allowable term of four years in prison following his involuntary manslaughter conviction.

Murray will likely do his time in L.A. County Jail, and may end up only serving half the sentence due to overcrowding. But he's been sentenced to the maximum.

Judge Pastor said in his ruling, "There are those who feel Dr. Murray is a saint. There are those who feel he's the devil. He is neither. He's a human being."

One whose actions led to the accidental death of Michael Jackson. Period.

Dr. Conrad Murray Sentencing

It's irrelevant, the judge said moments ago, whether Michael's own actions were reckless or whether he might have met this fate with some other doctor.

The fact is, Michael Jackson died because of the actions of Dr. Murray.

The judge said he looked at Murray's whole life, and he was impressed. But he added Dr. Murray's recklessness with Jackson overshadowed any good deeds.

He called the treatment of the pop star, "a cycle of horrible medicine" and said, "Dr. Murray engaged in a recurring, continuous pattern of deceit and lies."

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Dr. Conrad Murray's defense team has brought out the big guns.

The physician's mother is among the latest of his friends, family, patients and colleagues writing to the judge who will decide Murray's fate at sentencing today.

Murray was found guilty this month of involuntary manslaughter in the June 2009 death of Michael Jackson, and Michael Pastor will decide how much time he does.

He could get up to four years in prison ... but will he?

Not if his mother has any say in it. "Nothing like this has ever happened to him before," asserted Murray's mom, Milta Rush, in a letter obtained by E! News.

"He has never been in trouble with the law before and I am barely standing, I am so scared and worried sick about him being incarcerated."

She may get her wish, despite what you might think.

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Dr. Conrad Murray will be sentenced next Tuesday, and how much jail time he serves will depend on what a judge decides after hearing arguments from both the defense and prosecution - which will be poles apart as you might expect.

The D.A. wants Michael Jackson's former personal physician to spend the maximum possible four years in prison for his involuntary manslaughter conviction.

Meanwhile, defense attorneys asked that he only receive probation.

Prosecutors David Walgren and Deborah Brazil told Judge Michael Pastor that Murray showed no remorse for Jackson's death and has blamed others instead.

Moreover, he chose to slander the King of Pop both at trial and in the documentary he filmed during it, making a lenient sentence for the doctor inexcusable.

The film does not portray MJ flatteringly. In one interview for it, Dr. Conrad Murray actually says, "I don't feel guilty because I did not do anything wrong."

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Happy Thanksgiving to all from The Hollywood Gossip!

What would this holiday be without family, food, football and reflection upon the things we appreciate most ... in the case of THG, that means some of the turkeys we have had the privilege, the honor and the burden of covering in the past year.

We are talking some fowl individuals here ... real bird brains.

Without further ado, THG's Top 10 Turkeys of 2011 ...

Who will win the 5th Annual Spencer Pratt Thanksgiving Turkey Award!?

10. President Obama and GOP presidential candidates (tie). On a day when we share the blessings this nation has provided us, we'll also share the blame for a polarized electorate and a federal government destined for perennial gridlock.

9. Taylor Armstrong. Refining shamelessness, one episode at a time.

8. Gloria Allred. Loudmouth lawyer for accusers in seemingly every random celebrity scandal always wants to talk turkey ... and gobble up publicity.

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Dr. Conrad Murray's decision to film a documentary about the Michael Jackson involuntary manslaughter trial could hurt his bid for a lenient sentence, sources say.

Murray, who is said to be mulling suicide in jail, told British reporter Savannah Guthrie in the documentary, which aired on MSNBC, that he basically isn't to blame.

“I don't feel guilty, because I did not do anything wrong, I am very, very sorry for the loss of Michael. Michael is a personal friend. It's heartfelt. It's been painful."

Dr. Conrad Murray Documentary: Part 1

Murray's documentary could be played by the District Attorney at the sentencing hearing November 29. He was recently convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

"The DA is considering playing excerpts of Murray's interviews. It's admissible, and completely legal. It's very compelling evidence," said a source close to the case.

Among that evidence? Murray telling investigators a very different series of events that took place, than what he revealed during what was aired on television.

“[D.A. David] Walgren hasn't decided if he is going to play the video, but it only makes his case stronger that Judge Pastor should sentence Murray to four years."

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