TheCable

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear an appeal by Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Conrad Murray, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star’s death.

Murray was released from a Los Angeles jail in October, after serving two years but wants to clear his name.

His attorney had asked the court to overturn his 2011 conviction on the grounds that the intense media coverage of his trial could have influenced the jury.

The cardiologist’s attorney, Valerie Wass, said Murray will likely attempt to overturn his conviction in a federal court.

“I think that especially with a non-sequestered jury in a high-profile case that’s televised, it’s impossible to get a fair trial,” Wass said.

He added that she believes federal courts need to rule on how social media and the Internet can influence a jury.

The trial of Murray, 61, grabbed global attention after Jackson, who was preparing for a series of comeback concerts in London, died unexpectedly in 2009 at age 50.

The hip-hop icon was said to have died from an overdose of the surgical anaesthetic, propofol.

A lower court upheld Murray’s conviction in January, ruling that there were no errors during his trial.

Murray was convicted after prosecutors successfully argued that the physician was grossly negligent in administering the powerful anaesthetic, which was used to help the singer sleep.

Reuters