Conrad Murray found guilty in Michael Jackson death trial

Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal cardiologist, was convicted on Monday of involuntary manslaughter of the singer, who died of a drug overdose in 2009.

After a complicated trial, which began on Sept. 27, and a seven-man, five-woman jury deliberation lasting 8 and a half hours over the past two days, a guilty verdict was decided under the rule of Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor.

The trial consisted of 33 prosecution witnesses and 16 defense witnesses. Over 340 evidence exhibits were accessible to the jurors during their deliberation.

Michael Jackson died of a surgical anesthetic overdose in June 2009, the same year Murray agreed to be Jackson's personal physician. According to Murray's lawyers, Jackson was addicted to the drug and ingested a lethal dosage when Murray was not in the room. Prosecutors countered that theory with one claiming that Murray was "reckless" and "abandoned" the singer while he was under the influence of heavy drugs. Murray did not testify while on trial, but previously informed police officials that he gave Jackson sedatives the morning he died.

Murray is said to be "criminally negligent" and was charged with only one count of involuntary manslaughter. The doctor pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Though Murray showed no emotion while the verdict was read, members of the Jackson family were overjoyed. Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, reportedly kissed a prosecutor on her way out of the courtroom and Jackson’s brother Jermaine and sister La Toya shared hugs with some prosecutors.