Conrad Murray living on 'cat food'
2012-03-20 13:00
Los Angeles - Dr Conrad Murray believes his prison diet is making him very ill.
The medic is serving four years for the involuntary manslaughter of his former patient, singer Michael Jackson - who died in June 2009 of acute Propofol intoxication - but claims he has lost almost 14kg through chronic diarrhoea.
Dr Murray claims the water in Los Angeles County Jail smells and tastes bad, and that he is living on a diet of "cat food".
According to TMZ.com, he is buying canned tuna for R32, salmon flakes for R26.50 and canned mackerel for R18 to survive on, telling friends only he and the cats are forced to eat canned mackerel.
Flight risk
The doctor is said to be filing multiple appeals in his attempts to get out of jail, mainly because his health is compromised.
However, a spokesperson for the jail claims conditions are better than other jails in the county.
Spokesperson Steve Whitmore said: "All inmates receive the proper nutrition and medical care that is required by law, but the Sheriff's Deptartment goes above and beyond what is required."
In February Dr Murray was denied bail by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor as he poses a flight risk.
The judge said: "The bottom line is the defence does not have significant property or employment or family ties in the Los Angeles or California area.
"If he were to go to another country, that country might very well allow him to practice medicine."