Jackson death 'was homicide'

The King of Pop was given a lethal cocktail of drugs...

08:39 25 August 2009

Michael Jackson was given a lethal dose of a powerful sedative drug, hours before he died, a coroner's report has revealed.

According to some reports from celebrity website TMZ, the Los Angeles County coroner has ruled that the singer's death was a homicide, which means that criminal charges could be brought.

Toxicology results showed that Jackson's personal physician, Dr Conrad Murray, injected him with a powerful cocktail of drugs, including Propofol, before he died on June 25.

Los Angeles detective Orlando Martinez said Murray, who had been Jackson's personal physician for six weeks, admitted giving Jackson a number of different drugs to help him sleep.

Murray also told investigators that another doctor had introduced the King of Pop to Propofol, of which lethal levels were found in his blood.

He added that Jackson demanded Propofol after other drugs had failed to make him sleep. He also believes that the singer had become addicted to the drug and was trying to wean him off it with others.

Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, refused to comment on the reports that Jackson's death had been ruled a homicide saying: "Most of the reports by 'anonymous' sources have been proven wrong.

"We will be happy to address the coroner's report when it is officially released."

The doctor has not been named as an official suspect, but court records identified him as the subject of a manslaughter investigation.

Murray recently issued a direct message to his supporters concerning the case via YouTube saying: "Your messages give me strength and courage and keep me going. They mean the world to me.

"Please don't worry. As long as I keep God in my heart and you in my life, I will be fine. I have done all I can do. I told the truth and I have faith that truth will prevail."