Michael Jackson was killed after being given a deadly cocktail of drugs to help him sleep, court papers revealed last night.
Among the powerful sedatives found in the singer's body during a post-mortem examination was a lethal dose of the hospital anaesthetic, propofol. The Los Angeles coroner has now ruled the 50-year-old star's shock death on June 25 was homicide.
A law enforcement official, who wished to remain anonymous, said the coroner determined a fatal combination of drugs was given to Jackson hours before he died in his rented Los Angeles mansion. Forensic tests found the powerful anesthetic propofol in Jackson's system along with two sedatives, the official said. 'The Los Angeles Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner, Dr Sathyavagiswaran, indicated that he had reviewed the preliminary toxicology results and his preliminary assessment of
Jackson's cause of death was due to lethal levels of propofol (diprivan),' according to a search warrant affidavit for Murray issued by California. The document was released by the Harris County District Clerk in Houston, where Dr Murray has offices, which U.S. Agents raided on July 22, looking for evidence of manslaughter. Under California law, homicide is not necessarily equivalent to murder and can include manslaughter charges.
The police investigation is reportedly focused on whether Dr Conrad Murray was sufficiently negligent in administering propofol to Jackson to face an involuntary manslaughter count.