31 December,2010 07:30 AM IST | | Agencies
Dr Conrad Murray's lawyers are set to claim Michael Jackson "killed himself".
The physician is set to face trial over the involuntary manslaughter of the singer who died of acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009 and an initial hearing yesterday indicated his legal team plan to argue the iconic star administered the lethal dose of the anaesthetic himself.
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney David Walgren spoke out after the doctor's lawyer clashed with prosecutors over who should test residue from two syringes discovered in the star's bedroom.
Walgren said, "I do think it's clear the defence is operating under the theory that the victim, Michael Jackson, killed himself. They don't want to say it but that's the direction in which they are going."
Defence lawyer J Michael Flanagan said his client gave the singer just 25 milligrams of Propofol much less than was found in his system.
It is understood that Dr Murray's lawyers will claim Michael awoke and gave himself the lethal dose of the drug while the physician was out of the room.
Flanagan also revealed a fingerprint found on a broken syringe on the bedroom floor has not been identified.
Dr Murray (52) faces up to four years in prison if he is convicted.
