Conrad Murray sentenced to four years behind bars

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Dr. Conrad Murray was sentenced Tuesday to four years in the Los Angeles County jail -- the maximum sentence allowed under the law -- in the death of Michael Jackson. He may serve no more than two, however.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, in a lengthy statement delivered before sentencing Murray for involuntary manslaughter, said he felt a significant responsibility to determine the appropriate sentence, utilizing his "sense of fairness and decency."

"There are those who feel Dr. Murray is a saint," Judge Pastor said. "There are those who feel Dr. Murray is the devil. He's neither. He's a human being. He stands convicted of the death of another human being."
Automatic credit for good behavior lowers the actual time served to two years, which puts his projected release date in late 2013, Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said.

Murray is not eligible for early release electronic monitoring or house arrest, which some county prisoners get under a federal court order aimed at reducing jail overcrowding, Whitmore said. "He does not meet our requirements for any kind of home monitoring," he said.
Members of Jackson's family, who sat in court for Tuesday's sentencing, appeared pleased with the judge's decision to ignore defense please for leniency.

A statement from the family, read in court by a lawyer, said they were "not here to seek revenge," but they wanted a sentence that "reminds physicians that they cannot sell their services to the highest bidder and cast aside their Hippocratic oath to do no harm."
It included a message to the judge from Jackson's three children, Prince, Paris and Blanket.
"We will grow up without a father, our best friend, our playmate and our dad," the children said.
Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff acknowledged that it was unlikely Pastor would accept probation for Murray, but he still made a case for community service over time behind bars.
"He could do things for the community on probation that he could never do sitting in that little room," Chernoff said.
Even without jail time, Chernoff said, he will suffer the rest of his life because of the loss of his medical career and the stigma of the conviction.
"Whether he is a barista the rest of his life, whether he is a greeter at Walmart, he's still going to be the man who killed Michael Jackson for the rest of his life," Chernoff said.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren, arguing for the maximum four years in jail, said Murray was "playing Russian roulette with Michael Jackson's life every single night," by using the surgical anesthetic propofol to put him to sleep in "a reckless, obscene manner."

Murray showed his lack of remorse or acceptance of his personal responsibility in an interview nine days before he was found guilty, Walgren said.
"I don't feel guilty because I did not do anything wrong," Murray said in a documentary aired days after he was convicted.
Pastor delivered a 30-minute explanation of why he was sentencing Murray to the maximum jail time, even though the doctor was technically eligible for probation.

Murray's "faux documentary" made it appear he was just a "bystander" in Jackson's death who was "entrapped" and "betrayed" by his patient, Pastor said.
"Yikes! Talk about blaming the victim," he said. "Not only isn't there any remorse, there's umbrage and outrage on the part of Dr. Murray against the decedent, without any, any indication of the slightest involvement in this case."
Pastor said that while he had considered the entire "book" of Murray's life, he also had "read the book of Michael Jackson's life."
"Regrettably, as far as Dr. Murray is concerned, the most significant chapter, as it relates to this case, is the chapter involving the treatment, or lack of treatment, of Michael Jackson."
Jackson died "not because of an isolated one-off occurrence or incident," Pastor said. "He died because of a totality of circumstances which are directly attributable to Dr. Murray ... because of a series of decisions that Dr. Murray made."

Murray, he said, became involved in "a cycle of horrible medicine."
He cited Murray's "pattern of deceit and lies. That pattern was to assist Dr. Murray."
A tape recording of Jackson's slurred voice was Murray's "insurance policy," Pastor said. "It was designed to record his patient surreptitiously at that patient's most vulnerable point. I can't even imagine that happening to any of us because of the horrific violation of trust."

He said he wondered whether that tape would have been offered for sale, had Jackson not died and a rift had developed between the two in the future.
One of the 12 jurors who found Murray guilty said in an interview airing Tuesday on HLN's "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell," that the recording did not play into the verdict.

"We talked about that audio a little bit," Debbie Franklin, known as "Juror 5," said. "We didn't really understand why it was presented. I still do not understand what that was about."
Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter three weeks ago after a trial in which prosecutors successfully argued that Murray's reckless use of propofol to help Jackson sleep, without proper monitoring equipment, led to the singer's death.

"We had decided the three issues we were going to focus on were the not calling 911, not having the medical equipment and him leaving the room," Franklin said. "That was the bottom line for this case."
Testimony during the trial revealed that Murray gave propofol nearly every night in the two months before the singer's death on June 25, 2009, as Jackson prepared for his comeback concerts set for London the next month.
The judge set a hearing for January 23 to decide on the prosecution's request that Murray be ordered to pay Jackson's estate and his children more than $100 million in restitution for the "wage and profits lost," as provided under California's "victim's bill of rights" law.

The singer's "estate estimates Michael Jackson's projected earnings for the 50-show O2 concert series to be $100 million," the prosecutors said.
With nearly $2 million in funeral expenses and 10% interest added each year, the prosecution is asking Pastor to order Murray to pay Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson more than $120 million in restitution.
While it is doubtful that Murray, who is unlikely to ever practice medicine again, could pay very much of that sum, it could prevent him from reaping financial benefits from any books, interviews or film projects in the future.

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Conrad Murray Guilty: Jackson Family Present At Sentencing (PHOTOS)


The Jackson family was present on Tuesday as they watched the man, who was found guilty of taking their brother/son's life, sentenced to four years in prison.

Katherine, Jermaine, Randy and Latoya Jackson all showed up to the downtown Los Angeles courthouse for the sentencing of Murray's guilty involuntary manslaughter verdict.

"He has absolutely no sense of remorse," the Jackson family heard the judge say. "[Murray] is and remains dangerous. ... I think Dr. Murray is so reckless that I believe he is a danger to the community."

No doubt the Jackson family is relieved that justice will be served.


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Judge: Murray's secret recording designed to blackmail Jackson

In sentencing Conrad Murray to a maximum of four years behind bars, Judge Michael Pastor had particularly harsh words for the doctor for the surreptitious iPhone recording of a heavily drugged and slurring Michael Jackson.

Jackson can be heard on the recording, taped a month and a half before the pop star's death and first played during opening statements in the case, rambling almost incoherently about his plans for a comeback.

Deputy Dist. Atty. David Walgren argued that the recording was proof Murray was aware of the singer’s "state" but continued providing him drugs.

FULL COVERAGE: Trial of Conrad Murray

But Pastor had an even harsher assessment of the secret tape, calling it the piece of evidence against the doctor that "stuck out the most."

"I have repeatedly asked myself why did this happen and for what reasons," Pastor said. One conclusion, he said, was that Murray kept the recording to blackmail Jackson in case they had a falling out. "That tape recording was Dr. Murray's insurance policy.... It was designed to record his patient surreptitiously at that patient's most vulnerable point."

Pastor called the recording "offensive" and said it violated the doctor-patient relationship between Murray and Jackson.

He cited it as one of the reasons why he denied probation to Murray, saying it was another failure of Murray's character.

Pastor sentenced Murray to four years behind bars — the maximum punishment possible — for his part in Jackson's death, saying the doctor’s role in the singer’s fatal overdose was "money-for-medicine madness."

In blistering and lengthy remarks, Pastor lambasted Murray for failing to express any remorse for the pop star’s death and suggesting in a recent documentary that Jackson bore responsibility for his own demise.

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Angry judge gives Conrad Murray 4 years in Michael Jackson's death
November 29, 2011

A judge on Tuesday sentenced Dr. Conrad Murray to four years behind bars -- the maximum punishment possible -- for his part in Michael Jackson's death, saying the doctor’s role in the singer’s fatal overdose was “money-for-medicine madness.”

In blistering and lengthy remarks, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor lambasted Murray for failing to express any remorse for the pop star’s death and suggesting in a recent documentary that Jackson bore responsibility for his own demise.

“Talk about blaming the victim,” Pastor said. “Not only isn’t there any remorse, there is umbrage and outrage on the part of Dr. Murray against the decedent.”

FULL COVERAGE: Trial of Conrad Murray

Pastor denied the defense's request for probation.

"The fact remains, Dr. Murray is offended that [his] patient died," Pastor said in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. And Murray remains a danger to the community, he said.

Murray, who was convicted Nov. 7 of involuntary manslaughter, did not speak before Pastor issued his sentence Tuesday.
Pastor said that he had been impressed by statements from Murray's friends and family, who talked about his treatment of the poor. He said that he considered the entirety of Murray's life, something defense attorney Ed Chernoff had urged him to do.

PHOTOS: Conrad Murray trial

But he said he had also considered "the book" of Michael Jackson's life.

"Regrettably, as far as Dr. Murray is concerned, the most significant chapter as it relates to this case is the chapter involving the treatment or lack of treatment of Michael Jackson," Pastor said.

He called Murray's treatment a "disgrace to the medical profession."

“Michael Jackson died not because of an isolated one-off occurrence or incident," Pastor said. "He died because of a totality of circumstances which are directly attributable to Dr. Murray, not some mistake or some accident in the early morning hours of 2009."

He said Murray engaged in a "horrible cycle of medicine."

Prosecutors had also argued that Murray should serve the maximum sentence, citing his "lies," "coverup" and "concealment."

"Conrad Murray knew perfectly well that what he was doing was wrong," Deputy Dist. Atty. David Walgren said. "He knew perfectly well that what he was doing was risking Michael Jackson's life."

Over a four-week case, prosecutors painted Murray as a deceptive and incompetent doctor who abandoned his medical judgment in complying with Jackson's request to be given a surgical anesthetic to put him to sleep.

Witnesses testified to many egregious medical missteps -– giving propofol in an unmonitored setting, fumbling at basic resuscitation, keeping no records –- failures that experts said directly led to Jackson's overdose death.

As his famed patient stopped breathing and suffered cardiac arrest under the influence of propofol, jurors were told, the doctor chatted on the phone and sent and received email and text messages. And in the crucial moments after he discovered the singer had stopped breathing, he delayed calling for help and lied to paramedics and emergency doctors, witnesses said.

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Dr. Conrad Murray Sentenced To Maximum 4 Years In County Jail, Doesn’t Address Court

By Radar Staff

Dr. Conrad Murray has been formally sentenced to four years in the Los Angeles County Jail by Judge Michael Pastor for his role in the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson.

Prior to sentencing, Murray did not address the court; neither did any member of the Jackson family. Rather, Brian Panish, attorney and friend of the Jacksons, read a statement on the family's behalf.

In it, Panish said: "We are not here to seek revenge. There is nothing you can do here today to bring Michael back. But we will keep the love in our hearts that Michael embodied throughout his life. His passion was for unifying the world through the gift of his artistry.

DOCUMENT: Read Dr. Conrad Murray's Probation Report

"We respectfully request that you impose a sentence that reminds physicians that they cannot sell their services to the highest bidder and cast aside their Hippocratic oath to do no harm. As we all know from this tragedy, doing so can have devastating results.

"The Bible reminds us that men cannot do justice, they can only seek justice. That is all that we ask as a family. And that is all that we can ask for here."

PHOTOS: Key Players In The Trial Of Dr. Conrad Murray

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren then addressed the court, asking the judge to impose the maximum four year sentence and deny probation. Said Walgren: "The planning and sophistication of the crime... There's clear evidence of the planning and sophistication that went into this. The defendant clearly and intentionally did not keep medical records. When it came to the treatment of the patient with propofol...he made a decision not to document that behavior in any written manner. That doctor/patient relationship was fundamentally destroyed by Dr. Murray. It is the People's position that prison is warranted. The defendant was playing Russian Roulette with Michael Jackson's life every single night."

PHOTOS: Michael Jackson Through The Years

Dr. Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, asserted that "Michael Jackson was a drug seeker and he sought it out from Dr. Murray... He was a powerful, famous, wealthy individual with lawyers, security and staff and advisors. Maybe he was vulnerable. Maybe you agree with the prosecution? But what about before those two months? What about Dr. Murray's life before those two months?"

Judge Pastor questioned Dr. Murray's motivation for tape recording Michael Jackson while under the influence of drugs. "That tape recording was Dr. Murray's insurance policy. It was designed to record his patient surreptitiously at his most vulnerable point. I can't even imagine that happening to any of us... If the choice were to release that tape recording to a media organization... That failure of character was compounded by later actions of Dr. Murray...," the judge said.

PHOTOS: Katherine Jackson Holds Memorial For King Of Pop In His Hometown

"I believe he's a danger to the community. "It should be made very clear that experimental medicine is not going to be tolerated. And Michael Jackson was an experiment," Pastor said when pronouncing the sentence.

Murray was immediately remanded into the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department because of state prison overcrowding.

PHOTOS: Stage Shots of Michael Jackson Performing

As he was led away in handcuffs, Murray blew a kiss, presumably to his family.

Murray's four year sentence will automatically be cut in half because this crime is considered a non-violent felony. Dr. Murray could serve the sentence under house arrest, that decision will be made by the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Inside Michael Jackson's Mansion On The Day Of His Death

A restitution hearing has been set for January 23, 2012, because the District Attorney is asking that Murray pay $100 million dollars to Michael Jackson's three children. (The prosecution said Jackson stood to earn $100 million from his This Is it tour.)

Several members of the Jackson family, including his mother Katherine, and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, and Randy attended the sentencing.

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MJ'S FAMILY TO JUDGE:
We Don't Want Revenge
We Want Justice!

Michael Jackson's parents, siblings and children issued a joint statement to the court ... begging Judge Pastor to make Conrad Murray pay for his crime ... but the family insists they're not out for revenge.

The statement reads, "There is no way to adequately describe the loss of our beloved father, son, brother and friend. We still look at each other in disbelief. Is it really possible that he is gone?

As Michael's parents, we could never have imagined that we would live to witness his passing. It is simply against the natural order of things.

As his brothers and sisters, we will never be able to hold, laugh or perform again with our brother Michael.

And as his children, we will grow up without a father, our best friend, our playmate and our dad.

We are not here to seek revenge. There is nothing you can do here today to bring Michael back. But we will keep the love in our hearts that Michael embodied throughout his life. His passion was for unifying the world through the gift of his artistry.

We respectfully request that you impose a sentence that reminds physicians that they cannot sell their services to the highest bidder and cast aside their Hippocratic oath to do no harm. As we all know from this tragedy, doing so can have devastating results.

The Bible reminds us that men cannot do justice, they can only seek justice. That is all that we ask as a family. And that is all that we can ask for here."

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'I humbly beg you': Mother of Michael Jackson's killer pleads with judge to show mercy ahead of sentencing today

'I humbly beg you': Mother of Michael Jackson's killer pleads with judge to show mercy ahead of sentencing today

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DR. MURRAY'S MOM
Begs Judge for Mercy

Dr. Conrad Murray's mother says she's "suffering" from overwhelming sadness because her only son is incarcerated -- and has begged the judge to go easy on the Doc when it comes to his sentence.

Mrs. Milta Rush sent a letter to Judge Pastor -- explaining why Murray deserves mercy ... because he's a good person who has "never drank alcohol, took drugs or smoked cigarettes in his life."

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

"He is saddened and remorseful about the death of his friend Michael Jackson and I do believe he is certainly learning the toughest lesson of his life."

Milta continues, "I sympathize with Mrs. Jackson as a mother; I feel her pain for having lost her son. I sense she was very close to her son. I really wanted to approach her personally and tell her I am sorry for the loss of her son but I was unsure if she would be receptive, and I did not want to take the chance of violating the courts rules. I am sorry for her loss."

"Judge Pastor, Conrad, is my son and as a mother I must say I know him inside out. He is sorry for what happened to Michael and had no intent towards him."

"I humbly beg for your heart felt consideration of everything I have said about Conrad, and ask for your compassion and leniency in giving him probation or community service."

Dr. Murray's sentencing hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

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DR. MURRAY'S BABY MAMA
Max Sentence Is 'Ridiculous'

Dr. Conrad Murray's baby mama Nicole Alvarez is furious over the maximum sentence that was imposed today -- claiming Judge Pastor's decision was "ridiculous."

Nicole stepped out today with her son -- insisting Murray has beaten himself up non-stop since Michael's death ... despite Judge Pastor's claim the doctor showed no remorse for his crime.

Nicole adds, Murray has been "mournful for the past two-and-a-half years."


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Quotes and reaction to sentencing of Michael Jackson’s doctor

By Associated Press, Published: November 29

Quotes on the sentencing of Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s doctor:

— “We are not here to seek revenge. There is nothing you can do today that will bring Michael back. But we will keep the love in our heart that Michael embodied throughout his life. His passion was for unifying the world through the gift of his artistry.” — Jackson family statement read by attorney Brian Panish

— “As Michael’s parents, we could never have imagined that we would live to witness his passing. It is simply against the natural order of things. As his brothers and sisters, we will never be able to hold, laugh or perform again with our brother Michael. And as his children, we will grow up without a father, our best friend, our playmate and our dad.” — Jackson family statement as read by Panish

— “Dr. Murray — whether he’s a barista for the rest of his life, whether he’s a greeter at Walmart — he’s still going to be the man who killed Michael Jackson.” — defense attorney Ed Chernoff

— “I would just simply state that this crime occurred on June 25, 2009, but as far as looking at factors in aggravation, we know the defendant was playing Russian roulette with Michael Jackson’s life every single night.” — Deputy District Attorney David Walgren.

— “In essence Dr. Murray created this vulnerable situation and when Michael Jackson was at his most vulnerable, Dr. Murray left him alone to die.” — Walgren.

— “My son is not what they charged him to be. He was a gentle child from the time he was small. “ — Milta Rush, Murray’s mother

— “It should be made very clear that experimental medicine is not going to be tolerated, and Mr. Jackson was an experiment. The fact that he participated in it does not excuse or lessen the blame of Dr. Murray, who simply could have walked away and said no as countless others did.” — Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor.


“I can’t even imagine that happening to any of us because of the horrific violation of trust.” — Judge Pastor, regarding a recording of an impaired Jackson that authorities recovered from Murray’s cell phone

— “This is going to be a real test of our criminal justice system to see if it’s meaningful at all,” District Attorney Steve Cooley said about Murray’s four-year sentence automatically being cut in half

— “I think this die was cast a long time ago,” defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan on judge issuing maximum sentence

— “The egregious conduct of Dr. Murray when ‘treating’ Michael Jackson was bad enough but when coupled with his outrageous lies in trying to cover up his wrongdoing after Michael was dying and/or had died only served to magnify his criminal actions. Michael Jackson was the one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived and he will be missed by millions.” — Statement issued by estate of Michael Jackson

—”For those of us who knew Michael and loved him this is not a day of celebration. It is a day of continued pain because of the loss of a great artist and friend. I do hope it sends a signal to those that would prostitute their professional skills for money and pleasure while violating the oath of their profession.” — The Rev. Al Sharpton

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Michael Jackson: Prosecutor David Walgren reacts to Conrad Murray sentencing

Continue reading on Examiner.com Michael Jackson: Prosecutor David Walgren reacts to Conrad Murray sentencing - National Jackson family |

The Conrad Murray trial took place beginning at the end of September, and it took place over six weeks. On November 7, the jury found Conrad Murray guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. Today, the hearing for Conrad Murray's sentencing took place today, and the judge, Michael Pastor sentenced Murray to the maximum of four years. Prosecutor David Walgren reacted to the news today at a press conference along with Deborah Brazil and Steve Cooley.

Prosecutor David Walgren was asked a series of questions today at the press conference, and he was asked his thoughts about the Conrad Murray documentary. Walgren stated that he did not watch the entire documentary, but that he did watch parts of it, and that sections of it did not surprise him. He did however say that he was a bit surprised by the fact that it was even created. David Walgren was also asked about his thoughts on the possibility of Conrad Murray serving a substantially smaller sentence, and Walgren said that they (the prosecution) received the sentence that they hoped for.

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