Jury to decide fate of Jackson doctor

Murray is a little fish in a big, dirty pond -Defence Attorney:

US: The fate of Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray could be decided Friday when the jury in his manslaughter trial start deliberating, after lawyers clashed at the climax of the high-profile case.

The seven-man, five-woman jury were tasked with considering their verdict after prosecutors and defense lawyers wrapped up their closing arguments Thursday at the end of the six-week long trial in Los Angeles.

The jury are due to meet from 8:30 am (1530 GMT), amid speculation that they could come to a quick verdict on the sole charge of involuntary manslaughter which Murray faces.

Otherwise deliberations will continue next week.

In a powerful summary Thursday, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said the 58-year-old medic caused the star's death through negligence and greed, depriving his children of their father and the world of a "genius."

Defense attorney Ed Chernoff then took the floor to claim that Murray was "a little fish in a big dirty pond," alleging that key witnesses conspired to agree a story after Jackson died at his LA mansion on June 25, 2009.

Murray faces up to four years in jail and could lose the right to practise medicine if convicted over Jackson's death from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, combined with other sedatives administered to help him sleep. AFP