A judge on Tuesday ordered Michael Jackson's personal doctor to stand trial on involuntary manslaughter charges for allegedly killing the singer with an overdose of powerful sedatives.
Conrad Murray, who claims he was just treating the pop icon for insomnia when he died in June 2009, also had his license to practice medicine in California suspended.
The cardiologist will be arraigned on Jan 25, the Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled after six days of hearings that included evidence that Murray tried to cover up having given Jackson an overdose of the drug propofol.
Judge Michael Pastor said testimony presented in court convinced him that to let the doctor keep his medical license "would constitute an imminent danger to public safety".
Jackson's death shocked the entertainment world and triggered intense debate over the performer's health in the run-up to London concerts, known as the This is It tour.
Murray could face up to four years in jail and permanently lose his doctor's license if the case goes to full trial and he is convicted.
His defense team has suggested that Jackson could have effectively killed himself by administering an extra dose of propofol while Murray was out of the room.
Prosecutors allege that Murray, 57, "abandoned his patient" after administering the propofol some time between 10:40 am and 11 am to help Jackson sleep, and then tried to cover it up after the singer's death.
Tuesday's widely-expected ruling came shortly after a forensic expert testified that Jackson's death was a homicide, saying the singer was in generally good health when he died on June 25, 2009, at his Los Angeles mansion.
Christopher Rogers, head of forensic medicine for the Los Angeles County coroner's office, said the star died of acute intoxication with propofol, which is usually used as an anesthetic in hospital settings.
Questions:
1. Where will the doctor be arraigned?
2. What was the name of the judge?
3. When did Jackson die?
Answers:
1. Los Angeles Superior Court
2. Judge Michael Pastor
3. June 25, 2009.
(中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑)
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.