Michael Jackson News

Hours after proclaiming Dr. Conrad Murray is nothing more than a witness to Michael Jackson's death, the physician's attorney is now insisting that the doctor did not give or prescribe the pop icon Demerol or OxyContin.

The Los Angeles police were told that the music legend was given an injection of Demerol just an hour before his death. That led to speculation that Murray was somehow involved, as he was on the scene at the time of Jackson's death on Thursday.

But on Sunday, Murray's attorney, Edward M. Chernoff, said that any other drugs that were prescribed to the King of Pop were the result of a specific complaint.

The Houston lawyer also said that Murray found Jackson unconscious in his bedroom—he wasn't breathing and had a faint pulse. It was at that point that the cardiologist began to perform CPR. (The events were chillingly recorded in the 911 call.)

Police investigators met with Murray for about three hours Saturday night to review "inconsistencies" in his original testimony, per a police spokeswoman. The LAPD said Murray was "cooperative."

In a statement, Chernoff's law firm said, "Investigators have made it clear...that Dr. Murray is considered to be a witness to the events surrounding Michael Jackson's death, and he is not a suspect.

"Dr. Murray hired legal counsel to help guide him through the police investigation process. The law firm was hired to make sure the police investigation is conducted properly."

Murray, who was thrust into the spotlight when he wasn't immediately locatable after Jackson was pronounced dead, voluntarily submitted to the police interrogation, Chernoff said, answering "every and all questions" put to him Saturday.

Jackson patriarch Joe Jackson, however, told CNN on Sunday that "I have a lot of concerns, but I can't get into that." His lawyer, L. Londell McMillan, promised "to say about that at a later point."

Los Angeles police have confirmed they are conducting a routine investigation into Jackson's death. An autopsy showed no signs of trauma or foul play, according to the L.A. County Coroner's Office.

Murray, who was hired to accompany Jackson to London as his personal physician, was with the 50-year-old singer when he went into cardiac arrest at his rented Holmby Hills mansion. Murray and the paramedics who transported Jackson to UCLA Medical Center attempted CPR, but he never regained consciousness.

"Dr. Murray rode with Michael Jackson to the hospital and made frantic attempts to revive him along the way," Chernoff's firm said. "Dr. Murray considered himself to be a friend of Michael Jackson and he is very distraught over his death. He will continue to cooperate in every respect."

(Originally published June 27, 2009, at 8:30 p.m. PT)

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