A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that the Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide.
The finding makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with the pop star when he died.
The official says the coroner determined a fatal combination of drugs was given to Jackson hours before he died in his rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the findings have not been publicly released.
Forensic tests found the powerful anesthetic propofol in Jackson’s system along with two sedatives, the official says.
Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, is the target of a manslaughter probe headed by Los Angeles police.
CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen cautions against reading into the word “homicide” in the coroner’s ruling.
“It doesn’t mean we are going to see a homicide, as opposed to manslaughter case against anyone,” Cohen says. “The examiner’s office doesn’t distinguish between legal terms ‘manslaughter’ and ‘homicide.’”
A search warrant affidavit unsealed Monday allowed officials to raid the Houston offices and storage facility of Dr. Murray last month.
It says Murray told a Los Angeles police officer he administered several drugs to Jackson the day he died, including 25 milligrams of the sedative, which he gave intravenously.
The affidavit says Murray never ordered, purchased or received any of the propofol but that the doctor found about eight bottles of it in Jackson’s home along with numerous other vials and pills.
According to the the Los Angeles Times reports, the documents show Murray told LAPD detectives that he had been giving propofol to Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks.
The doctor told the police that he feared the singer was becoming addicted to drug and therefore lowered the dosage, while combining it with other sedatives.
However, on the morning Jackson died, Murray relented to Jackson’s demands for propofol and gave him 25 milligrams of the drug, according to the court documents.
Complete coverage of Michael Jackson’s life and death
The affidavit contains the following excerpts:
• “I have reason to believe and do believe that evidence of the crime of manslaughter” was found in Murray’s storage facility.
• Murray says he administered “several drugs to Jackson in the early morning hours” and at 11am, Jackson stopped breathing.
• “toxicology analysis showed that MJ had lethal levels of Propofol in his blood”
• Murray administered Propofol and Lidocaine intravenously in early morning hours of 6/25/09
The warrant says the following:
• Murray told LAFD paramedics he had given Jackson Lorazepam before he stopped breathing – 2 doses of 2 mg during the night
• Search of residence found the following bottles of meds prescribed by Murray: diazepam (valium), tamsulosin (flomax), lorazepam (ativan) and temazepam (restoril)
• Also from Dr Metzger clonazepam (klonopin) and trazonone (desyrl)
• And tizanidine (zaanaflex) by Dr. Klein
• Murray gave Jackson an intravenous drip every night to help him sleep of Propofol diluted with Lidocaine
• On June 22, Murray gave MJ propofol and lorazepam and midazolam
• On June 23 gave him lorazepam and midazolam.
On June 25, the day of Jackson’s death, the warrant has the following information:
• 0130am – valium pill.
• 0200 lorazepam IV.
• 0300 midazolam IV.
• 0500 lorazepam IV.
• Jackson remained awake and at 0730 Murray gave him more midazolam in IV.
• Jackson remained awake and at 1040am Murray gave him propofol diluted with lidocaine via IV drip. Jackson finally went to sleep.
• 1050am Murray went to the bathroom for 2 minutes, returned and said Jackson wasn’t breathing. Started CPR and gave him Flumanezil
Story on: CBSNEWS.COM
