Dr. Conrad Murray found guilty of Michael Jackson’s death

Conrad Murray was convicted Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the drug-overdose death of singer Michael Jackson after a jury deliberated for two days.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor handed the case to the seven-man, five-woman jury Thursday after closing arguments by prosecutor David Walgren and lead defense lawyer Ed Chernoff. Over nearly six weeks of testimony, jurors heard from 33 prosecution witnesses and 16 defense witnesses. More than 340 exhibits were available in the jury room as the panel mulled a verdict.

Jackson, 50, died on June 25, 2009, of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol, aggravated by effects of the sedative lorazepam. Murray, 58, was charged with a single count of involuntary manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty.

Walgren said Murray caused Jackson’s death through acts of “criminal negligence” in using a hospital-grade drug for insomnia in Jackson’s home without proper monitoring and resuscitation equipment. Murray also acted negligently in delaying 20 minutes before calling 911, attempting CPR incompetently and failing to tell rescue personnel he had used propofol, Walgren said.

A negligent failure to act can be involuntary manslaughter under California law. Walgren adopted this theory, too, saying Murray had failed to fulfill a doctor’s legal duty to care for a patient.