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Conrad Murray has been sentenced to the maximum four years in prison for his involvement in the death of Michael Jackson.
Murray was convicted Nov. 7 of involuntary manslaughter after the prosecution “painted him as a reckless caregiver who administered a lethal dose of a powerful anesthetic that killed the pop star,” according to the AP.
CNN reports that presiding judge Michael Pastor, in a lengthy statement delivered before sentencing Murray for involuntary manslaughter, said that he felt a significant responsibility to determine the appropriate sentence, utilizing his “sense of fairness and decency.”
“There are those who feel Dr. Murray is a saint,” Pastor said. “There are those who feel Dr. Murray is the devil. He’s neither. He’s a human being. He stands convicted of the death of another human being.”
According to CBS, several members of Jackson’s family, including mother Katherine and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Randy and Rebbie, attended the proceedings. Before the sentencing, a representative read a statement on behalf of the Jackson family.
While they didn’t explicitly ask for the maximum penalty for Murray, their statement stated that “the cardiologist should be punished in a way that reminds physicians that they cannot sell their services to the highest bidder.”
Readers: Do you think the maximum sentence was fair? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more:
Conrad Murray found guilty in Michael Jackson trial
Verdict reached in Conrad Murray case
