Michael Jackson's death homicide
Michael Jackson's death was declared a homicide by Los Angeles
coroners on Friday as they revealed the singer had a lethal cocktail of
six different drugs in his body when he died.Ending several weeks of
feverish speculation following Jackson's sudden death in Los Angeles on
June 25, the county coroner's office issued a brief statement ruling
that the superstar's death was unlawful.
The statement said that while "acute intoxication" from the powerful
anesthetic propofol was the primary cause of death, Jackson, 50, had
also suffered from the effects of other drugs in his system.As well as
propofol, powerful drugs including lorazepam, midazolam, diazepam,
lidocaine and ephedrine were found in Jackson's body.The coroner's
statement said police investigators and public prosecutors had ordered
that the full toxicology report concerning Jackson be withheld until
further notice.Jackson's family welcomed the findings."The Jackson
family again wishes to commend the actions of the coroner, the LAPD and
other law enforcement agencies, and looks forward to the day that
justice can be served," the family said in a statement.
The coroner's announcement will fuel speculation that authorities are
likely to charge Jackson's personal physician Conrad Murray in
connection with the death. Cardiologist Murray was the last person to
see Jackson alive.A lawyer for Murray issued a barbed statement to
Friday's announcement, saying the coroner's release "contains nothing
new."
"For two months we have been hearing the same information, usually
from leaks out of the coroner's office," attorney Ed Chernoff said in a
statement."One has to wonder why the coroner felt compelled to release
anything at all if the police investigation is not yet complete."
According to court documents unsealed in Houston, Texas, on Monday,
multiple drugs were administered to Jackson by Murray in the hours
before his death.
-AFP
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