Is Dr. Conrad Murray The Victim Of An Investigation Centered Around Proving A Conclusion Made Before Any Investigation Into Michael Jackson's Death?

Sometimes it is obvious when someone needs a good defense lawyer. Few would argue otherwise in the case of Dr. Conrad Murray. Dr. Murray finds himself at the center of the investigation into Michael Jackson's death. Allegedly, Dr. Murray purchased the powerful anesthetic believed to have played a role in Michael Jackson's death. TMZ reported that a supply of Propofol was found in Jackson's house. (According to TMZ, three large bottles and five small vials were found in Jackson's house.)

According to the Los Angeles Times, "three people familiar with the investigation," said that Dr. Conrad Murray admitted to police that he did indeed administer Propofol to Jackson on the day he died. Murray apparently legally purchased the propofol from a Las Vegas store. Dr. Murray is a cardiologist and doctor of internal medicine. He apparently administered medication to Jackson in order to help him sleep. (Jackson's chronic pain was such that he allegedly could not sleep well without being sedated.) It is certainly possible that Jackson was not truthful with his doctor as to all the other drugs that Jackson may have been taking. It is also possible that Jackson's doctor simply made a mistake that was negligent. But negligence does not necessarily mean that a crime was committed.

Murray's lawyer, Edward Chernoff, says that Dr. Murray has been treated unfairly by investigators. "From the beginning, they leaked that propofol killed him ... It has appeared the investigation was designed to support a conclusion they already made with regard to Dr. Murray." It is hard to disagree. It seems that Dr. Murray may be liable to the Jackson estate in civil court. But without an intent to harm Jackson, criminal charges seem overly aggressive. It appears that what Dr. Murray needs is a good lawyer. Only time will tell whether Edward Chernoff can stop the prosecution's momentum.

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The Prosectution Advocates Rebuttal:

Thanks for the opportunity to submit a rebuttal. Michael Jackson's personal physician Conrad Murray had money problems when he took the gig with Jackson for $150,000 a month. Murray owed at least $780,000 in judgments against him and/or his medical practice, his house mortgage, delinquent student loans, child support and credit cards debt. (See A.P.) Financial pressures could be a motive leading to manslaughter. Murray may have given Jackson a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol to help him sleep. He may have intentionally violated medical protocol for financial gain. Murray was under court orders to pay more than $363,000 for equipment for his heart clinic. He owed $71,000 in student loans dating to the 1980s. Two pending lawsuits claim he owes $240,000 for unpaid equipment.

Murray's 5,268-square-foot home is in "pre-foreclosure" after he failed to make payments on his $1.66 million loan. He stopped paying the $15,000-per-month mortgage in December. It also turns out that neither Jackson nor AEG Live paid Murray for the two months the doctor worked for Jackson. Murray filed for bankruptcy in California in 1992. He struggled with tax liens in California and Arizona between 1993 and 2003. A former business partner also claimed Murray owed him $68,000.

So, there may be motive to please Jackson, even though it violated protocol, simply in return for a handsome compensation which apparently was desperately needed.

Update 2-4-10: Dr. Conrad Murray is negotiating with prosecutors on plans to surrender. He will likely face felony charges related to Jackson's death. Murray will likely be arraigned at the courthouse near the Los Angeles International Airport at 1:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. ET) Friday.
Update 11-9-11: The jury convicted Dr. Conrad Murray of involuntary manslaughter. Murray will likely lose his medical license, and faces up to four years in prison.
Update 11-29-11: Dr. Conrad Murray sentenced to four years in jail. However, due to overcrowding in California, he will likely only spend two years in jail.