Conrad Murray Will Likely Get The Max
Email This Post
November 9, 2011 by Philip Franckel, Esq. · 2 Comments
Dr. Conrad Murray will likely get the maximum sentence for the death of Michael Jackson because of the following reasons:
- The deceased is Michael Jackson.
- Providing propofol as a sleeping aid was unconscionable.
- Providing propofol as a sleeping aid without the proper medical equipment and without constant medical supervision is beyond unconscionable and is reckless enough to have resulted in the guilty verdict.
- The maximum sentence will not provide much jail time.
- Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor chose to remand Dr. Conrad Murray to custody to be held without bail instead of releasing him pending sentencing.
In remanding Dr. Conrad Murray to custody, Judge Michael Pastor cited the gravity of the crime; ties outside of the country; and that he is a threat to public safety. Judge Pastor said, “This is a crime where the end result was the death of a human being. That factor demonstrates rather dramatically that the public should be protected.”
It’s unfortunate that Judge Pastor cited public safety as a factor not to grant bail. There is clearly no threat to public safety that any reasonable person could find. Dr. Murray committed an incredibly reckless act which resulted in the death of his patient but there is no possibility that any sane person could believe that Dr. Murray will give propofol to anyone else let alone kill anyone else either before or after his medical license is revoked.
If there is any concern that Dr. Murray could flee the country, his passport can be taken by the court. With all of the publicity, he has become an easily recognized figure and it would be extremely unlikely that he would be able to get on a plane with or without a passport.
Even the gravity of the crime is not severe. While the Michael Jackson’s death is a huge loss to the world of music, his fans and his family, Dr. Murray certainly did not intend to kill Michael Jackson.
Dr. Conrad Murray is guilty of being an idiot who deserves jail time for being criminally reckless. Unfortunately because the system is a farce, he deserves more jail time than he will serve. However, there is no rational legal reason to withhold bail pending sentencing. Perhaps the judge held him without bail because he knew that Conrad Murray would not serve much time.
After seeing Dr. Murray’s interview on the Today show with Savannah Guthrie, I was left with the feeling that Dr. Murray was lying and dumb enough to think that anyone would believe him. I also got the feeling that he believed his own lies which could be why he thinks other people will believe him.
Related posts:
Conrad Murray is a convicted felon and should receive the same treatment as any other convicted felon.
You should ask the three children of Michael Jackson how severe the gravity of the crime is. I'd bet they think it is much greater than you do.
I applaud Judge Michael Pastor for upholding the law and reminding us that justice is or should be equal for all, including Conrad Murray.
That’s the point. No other convicted felon without the publicity and national affection for Michael Jackson would have been held without bail pending sentencing for a conviction under these charges. Defendants convicted of much worse are often released on bail.
He should be released on bail pending the trial and serve the entire sentence in prison instead of staying in jail pending the trial and spending little time in prison after conviction. Bail is required when the defendant is a danger to society and/or there is a likelihood that the defendant will flee.
Unfortunately, he will likely serve little time in jail and little time in prison. This, by the way, could be the reason that the judge refused to release him on bail. Maybe, the judge wanted to make sure that he serves as much time in jail as possible. It’s just not technically correct and not the desired outcome if you feel he should serve more time in prison.