Dr. Conrad Murray, the Texas cardiologist who was convicted in the overdose death of Michael Jackson, was sentenced to four years in prison earlier today, MSNBC is reporting.
Conrad’s six-week trial filled in many details about Jackson’s final hours, including the ill-advised use of operating room anesthetic propofol to treat the singer’s chronic insomnia.
“Dr. Murray created a set of circumstances and became involved in a cycle of horrible medicine,” the judge said. “The practice of propofol for medicine madness, which violated his sworn obligation, for money, fame, prestige and whatever else may have occurred.”
The cardiologist also has been criticized for not having emergency equipment on hand or keeping records of his treatment of the recording artist.
Although Dr. Murray declined to testify during his trial, the IBTimes points out that he did participate in a reality program which was centered around the Pop King’s death.
In “Michael Jackson and the Doctor,” shown after the guilty verdict, Conrad revealed he did not consider himself guilty of any crime. Instead, he blamed Jackson for entrapping him, claiming he pressured the doctor to supply him with propofol doses.
Murray’s sentence, the maximum allowed, comes just three weeks after he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star’s 2009 death.
According to CBS News, Conrad Murray might only have to serve half of the four years because of overcrowding in California jails.
Watch Conrad Murray’s sentencing being handed down in the video below:
via MSNBC.com
