Late pop star
Michael Jackson
's death is being treated as a homicide by the Los Angeles County Coroner, according to a law enforcement official quoted by The Associated Press.
The findings make it more likely now that criminal charges may be filed against
Dr. Conrad Murray
, Jackson's private physician. Murray, the target of a manslaughter probe, has been interviewed twice by police, but not officially named as a suspect.
Lethal levels
Lethal levels of the powerful anaesthetic propofol were found in
Jackson
's body at the time of his death, according to findings by the Los Angeles County chief medical examiner unsealed in a Houston court.
The
Los Angeles Times
, which obtained a copy of a search warrant affidavit, reports that
Murray
admitted to Los Angeles Police Department detectives that he'd been treating the King of Pop for insomnia with the anaesthetic for six weeks.
Click here to read a copy of the search warrant affidavit
.
According to the affidavit, the LA chief coroner "had reviewed the preliminary toxicology results and his preliminary assessment of Jackson's cause of death was due to lethal levels of propofol".
Court records showed that Murray had been giving Jackson 50mg of propofol intravenously every night.
The Press also quotes the unnamed official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, as saying two sedatives were also found in Jackson's system.
Milk
The court document states that Jackson was "very familiar" with propofol, a cloudly white fluid, and referred to it as his "milk".
Other drugs were also found in Jackson's system according to the coroner's toxicology report, but none of them were believed to have been a factor in his death.
Addiction fears
According to a report published by Usmagazine.com, Murray told LAPD detectives that he was growing increasingly concerned that Jackson was becoming addicted to propofol. As a result, he'd been lowering the dose he was administering to the star, and mixing the anaesthetic with two other sedatives - lorazepam and midazolam.
Court records show that on June 23 - two days before the star's death - Murray reportedly gave Jackson two medications and witheld propofol. On the day Jackson died - June 25 - Murray, according to the records, gave Jackson a number of sedatives. When neither of them took effect, he said he administered a dose of propofol.
Murray is then reported to have left the star in his bedroom to make some phone calls. When he returned to see Jackson, the star was not breathing.
Timeline of events, according to the court doc:
* 1:30am
- Dr. Murray gave Jackson valium.
* 2am
- Injected lorazepam (an anti-anxiety drug) through an IV.
* 3am
- Jackson was still awake so Murray said he gave him midazolam.
* 3am until 10.40am
- Jackson complained that he still couldn't sleep. Over the next few hours Murray reportedly said he gave the singer various other sedatives.
* 10:40am
- Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.
TMZ.com reports that Murray noticed Jackson wasn't breathing at around 11am.
Jackson was declared dead at UCLA Medical Center later that day. According to the warrant, Murray refused to sign the death certificate.
What is propofol?
*
Marketed under the trade name Diprivan
*
A powerful anaesthetic usually used before and during surgery
How dangerous is the drug? Read an in-depth article about the anaesthetic
Earlier reports indicated that police had found eight bottles of propofol in Jackson's house.
Other drugs confiscated in the search by police included valium, tamsulosin, lorazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, trazodone and tizanidine.
911
that Murray waited for up to half an hour before calling paramedics after he found the King of Pop unconscious at his Los Angeles home.
A lawyer representing the cardiologist said in July that Murray had found the superstar stricken in the bedroom of his rented Beverly Hills mansion, and scrambled for up to 30 minutes to find a landline to call 911 as the pop icon lay dying, lawyer
Edward Chernoff
said.
A spokesperson from the law firm representing Murray said the delay in calling 911 stemmed from the doctor not knowing the address of the house he was in.
Truth will prevail
The doctor last week released a video protesting his innocence and said he "told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail".
Murray's offices were raided last month as part of the police investigation into the singer's death.
Jackson died on June 25 at the age of 50 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home.
Justice
Now that the LA County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson's death a homicide, the singer's family says it "looks forward" to justice.
A statement on behalf of the family published by Usmagazine com, says:
"The Jackson family has full confidence in the legal process, and commends the ongoing efforts of the L.A. County Coroner, the L.A. District Attorney and the L.A. Police Department."
Chatter says the homicide ruling now makes it more likely that criminal charges will be brought against Murray.
"The family looks forward to the day that justice can be served," the statement added.
Video: Fans react to news of Jackson homicide ruling
Story developing...
Blogger Bites Back
Pictured: Michael Jackson. Photo / AP
*New(ish) - follow Blogger Bites Back on Twitter