Conrad Murray suicide watch
Conrad Murray suicide watch - Conrad Murray, the doctor who killed Michael Jackson, has been placed on suicide watch in a Los Angeles prison amid suggestions he could be set to cash in on his crime. The 58-year-old cardiologist, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Monday, has been assigned special protection by prison authorities to prevent him being attacked by other inmates. He will have a single cell and an escort will go with him when he moves around inside the Los Angeles County jail.
Defence lawyer Nareg Gourjian said Murray was "devastated" by the guilty verdict but "confident" he will win an appeal.
Following his conviction it emerged that Murray had been co-operating with a documentary team for the last two years, and the film will be broadcast around the world later this week.
It was made by British producers October Films and directed by award-winning documentary maker Tom Roberts.
October Films said Murray was paid a nominal $1 fee for the film.
But the doctor could later profit through interview and book deals in America. California's so-called "Son of Sam" law, which had prevented felons profiting from publicity surrounding their crimes, was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 2002, allowing convicts like Murray to sell their stories.
When he started work for Jackson, Murray was hundreds of thousands of pounds in debt. He had just been ordered by a court to pay $363,000 for medical equipment at his Las Vegas clinic, and two other lawsuits claiming he owed another $240,000 were pending. He had also just been ordered to repay $71,000 in student loans dating back to the 1980s, and owed child support.
As he waited for his trial to take place his $1.6 million Las Vegas home was repossessed after he fell more than $100,000 behind on mortgage payments.
Murray faces a maximum sentence of up to four years in jail when he is sentenced on Nov 29.
In an extract from the forthcoming documentary, obtained by celebrity website TMZ, the doctor is shown sitting in his car outside one of Jackson's homes.
Murray said: "He could not really enjoy his property, I mean, paparazzi were here, fans were here, everyone was looking into the property. We escaped many a time, actually in this said vehicle. He would climb into the back seat and lay low and he would tell security 'Don't follow us.' My heart pounded a little bit. He liked those risks."
Murray also described how Jackson had never had a pedicure or a manicure and was "walking around with painful feet" and "unbelievable callouses".
He said: "I brought the appropriate specialists and he was very pleased of course. He was dancing without pain for the very first time. That was amazing."
Murray also gave film-makers access to his lawyers' meetings. The film, "Michael Jackson and The Doctor: A Fatal Friendship" will be shown on Channel 4 in the UK and MSNBC in the United States this week.
via: telegraph
