Cherry Pop

According to an article on the BBC Michael Jackson’s death has been ruled as homicide mainly caused by the anesthetic Propofol. This has led to Michael Jackson’s doctor being accused of killing Michael Jackson unlawfully but without malice, a charge of involuntary manslaughter. This charge however has not satisfied the Jackson family, their lawyer or the fans. Each have claimed that this is not enough and are looking for a stronger charge. I expect it also failed to amuse them to learn that Dr Murray is currently still allowed to practice medicine so long as he does not use any kind of anaesthetic.

Having read the article about the charge I can’t help but feel a little sorry for Dr Conrad Murray. There is no way he can come out of this situation with his reputation intact, even if he is found innocent his name and the trial will have had so much global interest he can never go back to a normal life. This is all assuming of course that a fair trail based on evidence and free from outside influences is possible.

Such a trail in my opinion seems a tall order. There is huge pressure for justice from both the Jackson family and Michael Jackson’s fans, they want to be able to hold someone responsible. Prosecutors too have stated they are keen to avoid an unsuccessful high-profile prosecution like the trial of OJ Simpson. An interesting statement seeing as this prosecution could never be low-profile, it therefore seems the pressure to convict Dr Murray is immense.

If he is actually guilty and sentenced accordingly then justice will have been done, for a lot of people however this will still be unsatisfactory. The concept of justice just does not seem to be what people are searching for. The devout Jackson fans want an answer to why their hero was taken from them before what was supposed to be his greatest show and a person to hold responsible fot this. The involuntary manslaughter charge will provide neither.

Joe Jackson has been quoted as saying “I was looking for justice, and justice, to me, would be a murder charge.”. He is also claiming that Dr Murray was a fall guy, implying that there is a much larger conspiracy afoot. Whether this is what he actually believes or a way of generating extra publicity is questionable. Either way the form of justice offered from the legal system does not seem to be the answer people want when focusing on Michael Jackson’s death. It is hardly surprising however that the cause of death for a man who lived such an eccentric life is creating such emotional response and public interest in America.

Whatever the outcome it seems one thing is certain, guilty or not Dr Murray is doomed to suffer, this will be a slap in the face to the concept of innocent until proven guilty. The trial will undoubtedly be a spectacle and strong test for the American justice system. After all the public speculation and attention has died away we can only hope that justice has been served and that Dr Murray is not the scapegoat villain that many feel is needed in the final chapter of the story of Michael Jackson.

Just before I go, I was talking to my brother who works in economics and he reckons that there is massive money in buying stocks for heating oil supplier. He is one of those people who is of the belief that America is trying to seize the world by taking over the Middle East. I am starting to believe that America is loosing all sense of reasoning. Period.