Did Dr. Conrad Murray kill Michael Jackson?

Hearings have begun in the manslaughter case against the doctor who was caring for the pop icon when he died. How strong is the prosecutor's case?

Dr. Conrad Murray would face up to four years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
(Image credit: Getty)

Preliminary hearings began this week to determine whether Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, should stand trial for manslaughter in the pop star's death. Jackson died in 2009, at age 50, from an overdose of propofol, a powerful sedative Murray administered to help the troubled singer sleep. Murray's lawyers say he only gave Jackson a half dose — nothing that "should have" killed him — and that a second syringe found at Jackson's bedside could have been used by someone else to administer the fatal injection. Is the public just looking for someone to blame? (Watch an AP report about the hearings)

Things are not looking good for Murray: The first day of testimony did not go well for the doctor, says Gil Kaufman in MTV. "One of the most shocking revelations" — from one of the late pop icon's bodyguards — was that the cardiologist "asked in a panic, 'Does anyone know CPR?'" as Jackson lay dying. Also, Murray waited 21 minutes to call 911 after Jackson stopped breathing. Murray is accused of giving Jackson dangerously substandard care, so this early testimony scored points for the prosecution.

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