Michael Jackson’s Doctor to Argue His Death Was a Suicide

Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray, the man being tried for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, have announced that they will argue the pop icon killed himself. The theory was prefaced during a hearing on Wednesday (Dec. 29), where Murray's lawyers and prosecutors disagreed over who would test residue on two syringes found in Jackson's bedroom. Identification of the prints could either help or hinder Murray's case, as some reports suggest that Jackson injected himself with more drugs after Murray left the room.

"I do think it's clear the defense is operating under the theory that the victim, Michael Jackson, killed himself," Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said. "They don't want to say it but that's the direction in which they are going."

Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest after taking a dose of the anesthesia Propofal the night before his death. Murray has been sought after in the case, as he was the King of Pop's personal physician, and is believed to have administered the lethal dosage of the drug. A toxicology report confirmed that Propofal was a contributing factor in Jackson's death but Flanagan told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor that at least 150 milligrams of the drug would have to had been present in Jackson's body to be fatal. He also noted that Murray only administered 25 milligrams of the drug along with the sleep sedative benzodiazepines.

Members of Jackson's family, including his mother and sister, Janet, have publicly blamed Murray for his death. A hearing for the case if set for Jan. 4, in which Judge Pastor will decide if there is enough evidence to move forward with a trial. If convicted, Murray faces up to four years in prison.