LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Pop star
Michael Jackson's death was a homicide caused by prescription medications, the
Los Angeles County coroner's office announced on Friday.
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Pop star Michael Jackson waves to supporters as he leaves the Santa Barbara County Courthouse after he was found not guilty in Santa Maria, California in this June 13, 2005 file photo. Jackson died from a lethal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol given in a cocktail of drugs, leading authorities to suspect his doctor of manslaughter, court documents showed on August 24, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication -- a
powerful sedative -- and the effects of the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam, the
office said in a final ruling.
Other drugs found in Jackson's system were midazolam,
diazepam, lidocaine and ephedrine, according to the office's investigation.
The coroner's report remains under seal pending the
completion of a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) investigation into the
singer's death.
Also on
Friday, the LAPD said state and federal drug-enforcement agencies are conducting
separate investigations into issues that " may not be directly related to the
cause of death."
LAPD officials said their investigation was ongoing
"and will result in the case being presented to the Los Angeles County District
Attorney for filing consideration."
Jackson died June 25 at his rented Holmby Hills
mansion in Los Angeles at age 50, just days before he was to perform a series of
concerts in London.
Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray told investigators that he had given Jackson the drug early the morning of his death, according to the earlier warrant.
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Dr. Conrad Murray, personal physician for Michael Jackson, is shown in this undated publicity photograph released to Reuters August 18, 2009. The coroner investigation into Jackson's death found he had lethal levels of the powerful anesthetic propofol in his body, and Murray told detectives he gave Jackson the drug to treat insomnia, the Los Angeles Times reported on August 24, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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He said he had given him the medication in the past,
but was trying to wean him off of the drug, fearing that he was developing an
addiction.
Murray said he gave Jackson a series of medications
over the course of that night because the singer could not sleep.
According to court documents, Jackson repeatedly
demanded the propofol, which he referred to as his "milk," and Murray finally
agreed.
Murray told investigators he left Jackson for about
two minutes to go to the bathroom, and when he returned, he found Jackson not
breathing.
Investigators are trying to determine if charges are
warranted against Murray or other doctors who may have prescribed or
administered the medication, which is usually used only in hospitals during
surgery.
Murray's home in Las Vegas and offices in Nevada and
Houston have all been searched in recent weeks by Los Angeles police and federal
agents. Previous court filings from those searches indicated that investigators
were conducting a manslaughter investigation.
Murray has denied any wrongdoing, saying he did not
administer any medications that should have led to the singer's death.
Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, issued a
statement on Friday, saying the coroner's announcement is "nothing new," and
questioned why any announcement was made while the autopsy remained sealed.
"In any case, this has all the earmarks of police
gamesmanship, and we will not be responding until we get a full autopsy report,
including the entire list of drugs found in Mr. Jackson, their quantities and
all other data that would allow independent medical experts to analyze and
interpret."
Meanwhile, Jackson's family issued a statement,
saying :
"The Jackson family again wishes to commend the
actions of the coroner, the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies, and looks
forward to the day that justice can be served."
