EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Conrad Murray's Defense To Ask Judge For Attendance Waiver
April 5 2010, Published 5:59 a.m. ET
Sources close to Dr. Conrad Murray tell RadarOnline.com exclusively that Dr. Murray's defense team will be asking Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza on Monday to sign off on a waiver that would excuse Michael Jackson's beleaguered doctor from having to attend procedural court hearings going forward.
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The defense will argue that Dr. Murray is incurring great expense having to travel to LA from Nevada and Texas, where he practices medicine, to attend court hearings.
If granted, Dr. Murray will still attend the preliminary hearing, when the date is set. The waiver is commonly granted in cases where the defendant is charged with a felony - in the Anna Nicole Smith case, one of the defendants, Dr. Christine Erosovich requested the same thing, and the judge granted it.
It is anticipated that the prosecution will object to the motion. The judge will either deny or grant the motion at the hearing Monday, which Dr. Conrad Murray will be present at, it is also expected that the Jackson family will attend.
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Murray is facing involuntary homicide charges stemming from the June 2009 death of his former client. Jackson was in the process of planning a huge multi-date comeback tour when he collapsed and died at his Beverly Hills home. Cause of death was ruled as acute intoxication, with the hospital anesthetic propofol and other sedatives ruled as a contributing factor.
The Jackson family have expressed outrage at the involuntary manslaughter charge, believing it is not severe enough.
If convicted Murray faces a maximum sentence of four years in jail.
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