Evidence against Murray 'overwhelming'

Los Angeles - Evidence against Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray is "overwhelming," a prosecutor said in closing arguments in the manslaughter trial Thursday.

Assistant District Attorney David Walgren said Murray, charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's 2009 death, violated a "sacred trust" between doctor and patient and caused the death which left the pop star's three children fatherless.

"The evidence in this case is overwhelming... that Conrad Murray acted with criminal negligence, that Conrad Murray caused the death of Michael Jackson, that Conrad Murray left Prince, Paris and Blanket without a father.

"For them this case doesn't end today or tomorrow or the next day, for Michael's children this case will go on forever, because they do not have a father," he said.

And he added: "They do not have a father because of the actions of Conrad Murray."

'Violated sacred trust'

Murray, 58, is accused with causing Jackson's death by giving an overdose of the surgical anaesthetic propofol, combined with other sedatives, on June 25, 2009 to help the King of Pop sleep.

The defence has argued that Jackson was a desperate drug addict who caused his own death by taking more medicines while Murray was out of the room at the star's rented mansion in Los Angeles.

But Walgren said the doctor was in charge, and could not escape the responsibility for the drugs which killed Jackson.

"The doctor is the decision maker. The doctor is the one entrusted with medical knowledge... who at the end of the day makes the decision... (for) the well-being of the patient.

"A doctor has a... solemn obligation to first do no harm... Conrad Murray violated that sacred trust each and every day," he added, speaking directly to the seven-man, five-woman jury.