Kill charges unlikely in Jackson probe

July 20, 2009 06:44:42 AM

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Detectives investigating the sudden death of Michael Jackson have found no evidence to suggest he was murdered, though their investigation is far from over, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

"There's nothing I have been told that would suggest a murder charge. It's just so remote and so unsupported by the facts as they've been gathered," said an official speaking to the Times on condition of anonymity.

Speculation has swirled that one of the doctors treating Jackson, who died of cardiac arrest on June 25, could be arrested and possibly charged in connection with the prescription painkillers being taken by the King of Pop.

But the official said that was highly unlikely.

"They are not suspects," he said of several of Jackson's doctors, who have been ordered to turn their files over to authorities.

"They are repositories of medical history... There's been a high level of cooperation."

The official's comments came as investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department, the county coroner's office, the district attorney's office and the Drug Enforcement Agency continue looking into the singer's death.

The source told the newspaper that the investigation is "so far away" from completion and warned that "there's a lot of hysteria out there."

Some of that has been fueled by Jackson's own family members, including his sister La Toya, who has been quoted in the British media calling her brother's death a murder.

"It was a conspiracy to get Michael's money," she said.

The investigation into Jackson's death has focused on his use of prescibed painkillers of a strength usually used for surgical procedures.

But even if his death is ruled a homicide by the coroner, authorities may not pursue charges against the five Jackson doctors who have been questioned because of the difficulty proving intent in such a case, the Times reported.

Vesna Maras, a former Los Angeles County deputy district attorney told the newspaper that Jackson's case would be hard to prosecute in part because of the number of doctors involved.

"If it is a combination of drugs -- and these drugs... were coming from multiple sources -- the argument can be made that the doctors did not know their patient was doctor-shopping," she said.

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