Judge sets January 4 for Michael Jackson’s death hearing
A judge says that a preliminary hearing for the doctor charged in Michael Jackson’s death will begin on January 4.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor scheduled the hearing for Dr Conrad Murray during a brief court session on Monday, with Murray in attendance.
Prosecutors will lay out some of their evidence at the hearing, with Pastor then deciding whether to send Murray to trial.
The 57-year-old cardiologist has pleaded not guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter.
Also present were several members of Jackson’s family, including his mother Katherine and father Joseph.
The doctor charged over Michael Jackson’s death is due back in court for a hearing that will decide when prosecutors will publicly present some of their evidence.
Dr Conrad Murray is required to attend the Los Angeles court, during which a judge is expected to schedule a preliminary hearing for later this year.
The judge will decide at that hearing whether there is enough evidence for the involuntary manslaughter case against the cardiologist to continue.
Dr Murray, who has offices in Las Vegas and Houston, was charged in February with administering a lethal dose of anaesthetic propofol to Jackson.
Murray has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers have said the physician did not give Jackson anything that “should have killed him”.
Source: Press Association