Jackson’s Doctor To Be Arraigned Friday

The Associated Press, citing two anonymous law enforcement officials, is reporting that prosecutors will charge Murray with involuntary manslaughter. The officials declined to be named “because of the sensitivity of the situation.”

Los Angeles County district court spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons would not officially confirm or deny the report that Murray would be arraigned Friday afternoon at the LAX courthouse.

Gibbons also said that the district attorney’s office usually files charges in the district where the alleged crime took place. Jackson’s June 25 death occurred in West Los Angeles, and that the LAX courthouse handles criminal charges for that area.

Attention focused on Murray soon after Jackson died. Murray has admitted to detectives that he gave the performer an anesthetic along with sedatives to alleviate insomnia, but has denied he did anything that would have caused Jackson’s death.

Murray, who practices in Houston, arrived in Los Angeles last weekend, sparking speculation that an arraignment could be close at hand and causing the media to descend on the downtown courthouse.

This isn’t turning out to be the best of weeks for Murray. Almost at the same time reports of a Friday arraignment began to emerge, a Las Vegas judge found the physician to be in default of a $132,000 loan related to office equipment and medical services.

Meanwhile, Murray’s lawyer, was defending his client in the press.

“There’s no joy in representing someone who shouldn’t be charged in the first place,” attorney Ed Chernoff said. “There’s some truth to the proposition that the waiting is the hardest part.”

However, as of Thursday morning Chernoff confirmed he was holding talks with the district attorney’s office for Murray’s surrender.

Click here for the complete Associated Press report.