Jackson doctor defends self in NBC interview

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson's doctor, who refused to testify at his trial, said in an interview broadcast Thursday that the singer lied to him about his medical history and never revealed he had an addiction problem.

"I would hate to put blame on Michael as an individual," Dr. Conrad Murray told the "Today" show in the interview done days before the doctor's conviction.

"I only wish maybe in our dealings with each other he would have been more forthcoming and honest.to tell me these things about himself," he said.

Interviewer Savannah Guthrie asked: "Do you think he lied to you?"

"Definitely," Murray said.

"About what?" she asked.

"Certainly he was deceptive by not showing me his whole medical history, doctors he was seeing, treatments that he might have been receiving." Murray answered.

"Did you really not know he had an addiction problem?" Guthrie asked.

"Absolutely not," said Murray. "Did not have a clue."

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Michael Jackson's doctor guilty of manslaughter

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's personal doctor was found guilty on Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's drug-related death in 2009 but may not spend much time in jail.

Dr. Conrad Murray, 58, was led away in handcuffs after the jury in Los Angeles reached a unanimous verdict. Dozens of fans outside the court erupted in cheers and some burst into tears.

"Justice was served. Michael is with us," said Jackson's brother Jermaine.

Murray faces up to four years behind bars when he is sentenced on November 29 but may spend only months in Los Angeles' overcrowded cells.

Murray pleaded not guilty to giving the "Thriller" singer a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol -- normally used in surgery -- that was ruled the main cause of his death at the age of 50.

Prosecutors argued Murray was grossly negligent in administering the propofol to help Jackson sleep. Defense lawyers claimed Jackson delivered the fatal dose to himself.

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