LOS ANGELES — The circus that swirled around Michael Jackson when he was alive rolled on Friday as the doctor expecting to be accused of involuntary manslaughter in his death planned to stage a surrender at a courthouse but called it off after prosecutors announced charges will be filed next week.
Instead of the promised appearance by Dr. Conrad Murray and his attorneys, a crowd of reporters and photographers gathered outside a branch courthouse only got a drenching from a rainstorm.
Murray, working as Jackson’s personal physician during the singer’s preparation for comeback concerts, has been under investigation since the 50-year-old pop star died June 25 after being administered the hospital-strength anesthetic propofol and sedatives at his rented mansion to help him sleep.
District attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said the events had no bearing on when the case would be filed. She released a terse statement saying prosecutors will be filing a case involving Jackson’s death Monday, but it did not name Murray or specify the charges.
The doctor’s legal team has said Murray will be charged with involuntary manslaughter.
“We’ll make bail, we’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight,” said lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff.
