Dr. Conrad Murray Wants Release From Jail While His Appeal Is Pending

Dr. Conrad Murray Wants Release From Jail While His Appeal Is Pending
January 27, 2012 4:17 PM

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — In court papers filed Friday, Michael Jackson’s personal physician asked to be released from jail while he appeals his involuntary manslaughter conviction.

In a written declaration, Dr. Conrad Murray asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor to release him on his own recognizance or on bail pending his appeal.

Murray noted in the declaration that he has been informed by his appellate attorney “that my appeal will take well over a year before an opinion is rendered.”

“I am aware of the fact that I will have to serve out the remainder of my sentence less credit for the time I have served if I am not successful on appeal,” wrote Murray, who was sentenced Nov. 29 to four years in county jail.

Murray, who will turn 59 next month, has been behind bars since being convicted Nov. 7.

The defense is asking that the request be heard Feb. 24.

In his declaration, Murray wrote that he would comply with any conditions such as electronic monitoring and would live with Nicole Alvarez and the couple’s son, who will turn 3 in March. He also said he would “endeavor to seek employment within the parameters allowed by the court so that I could contribute to the support of each of my children.”

In court papers filed along with the declaration, defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan wrote that Murray’s sentence “is very severe when considering his life history and the isolated and unusual circumstances giving rise to the facts upon which his conviction was based.”

In the filing, Flanagan wrote that Murray’s conviction “arose out of facts that were the result of an unusual situation, a close friendship with Michael Jackson and a desire to assist him through a difficult situation. Dr. Murray may have made wrong choices and not have exercised good medical judgment at times, but he never intended to injure anyone.”

The defense attorney also noted that Murray is jailed under “maximum security” conditions. He is isolated in a solitary cell and only taken out with his hands chained to his waist when he is escorted by several sheriff’s deputies, and that he is “always chained to a table when he meets with his lawyer in the attorney conference room.”

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