英语文摘:Jackson's personal physician to face involuntary manslaughter charges

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Los Angeles judge has ordered late pop icon Michael Jackson's personal physician to stand trial on an involuntary manslaughter in connection with the singer's death.

The judge also suspended Conrad Murray's license to practice medicine in California.

There is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial for Murray, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor ruled as a six-day preminary hearing drew to a conclusion on Tuesday. The hearing was held to help the judge to decide if there is enough evidance for the 57-year-old cardiologist to stand trial for Jackon's death.

If convicted, Murray could be sentenced four years behind bars.

Dr. Conrad Murray is shown during a hearing in Los Angeles in this April 5, 2010 file photograph.

The King of Pop was ruled by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office as having died from acute propofol intoxication. The potent sedative is generally used in a hospital and clinical setting.

Dr. Christopher Rogers, chief of forensic medicine for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office who ruled Jackson's death a homicide, testified when he took the stand this morning that he made the judgment based largely on what he called the substandard medical care the singer had received.

"Based on the quality of the medical care, I would still call this a homicide, even if the doctor did not provide the propofol to Mr. Jackson," he said.

A patient who is given such a powerful anesthetic should not be left unattended, Rogers said. "Bad things can happen very quickly" when a patient is under anesthesia, he noted.

The superstar's health was generally good, Rogers said, noting the singer was 5-foot-9 and had a normal weight of 136 pounds.

Jackson died on June 25, 2009.