CELEBissue: Defence to argue Jackson killed himself Hearing today into manslaughter charge

Written on 12:16 AM by Bianca Karizza Official BlogSite

Lawyers for Michael Jackson's personal doctor will argue that he killed himself, prosecutors claimed ahead of a pre-trial hearing today into the pop icon's death.

The case centres on the role of Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who faces charges of involuntary manslaughter over the June 25, 2009 death of the "King of Pop." Jackson died at age 50 from drug-induced respiratory arrest.

At the preliminary hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor will decide whether there is enough evidence to try Murray, 57, on charges of involuntary manslaughter -essentially, a killing done without malice.

Murray is accused of administering a powerful cocktail of sedatives and painkillers to help Jackson sleep, and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A prosecutor claims defence lawyers will say Jackson woke up that night at his Beverly Hills mansion and injected himself with an overdose while Murray was out of the room.

"I do think it's clear the defence is operating under the theory that the victim, Michael Jackson, killed himself," said Deputy District Attorney David Walgren at a preliminary hearing last week.

"They don't want to say it, but that's the direction in which they are going," he added. A defence lawyer declined to comment on any theories outside the court.

There is likely to be strong emphasis in the hearing on Murray's use of propofol, an anesthetic used in surgery, to treat Jackson's insomnia. The powerful drug is not approved for home use or to treat sleep disorders.

A preliminary hearing is usually a routine procedure in which only one or two witnesses are called, but prosecutors are set to call as many as 35 witnesses, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Those summoned are expected to include medical experts and investigators as well as the security guards and staff present in the days and hours leading up to Jackson's death, it said.