Michael Jackson's doctor to be tried for manslaughter

A judge has ordered the personal doctor of Michael Jackson to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter, BBC News reported.

Judge Michael Pastor gave the ruling against Dr Conrad Murray at a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles.

Prosecutors say that he gave Jackson a lethal dose of a powerful anaesthetic mixed with other sedatives and then failed to provide proper care.

Dr Murray, 57, has pleaded not guilty, and says he did not give Jackson anything potentially lethal.

Judge Pastor made the order against the cardiologist on the sixth day of the hearing. He also granted a request by the California Medical Board to suspend the licence of Dr Murray to practise in the state.

Dr Murray faces up to four years in prison if convicted at trial.

Earlier, Detective Orlando Martinez, who interviewed Dr Murray two days after Jackson's death in June 2009, gave evidence to the court.

Martinez told the hearing Dr Murray said that Jackson told him on the day he died he would have to cancel his comeback concerts in London unless he had a dose of the anaesthetic, propofol. Michael Jackson was rehearsing for a series of concerts in London when he died.

The detective said Dr Murray admitted giving Jackson it after a night administering lesser drugs to help him sleep.The doctor said he then left the room for "two minutes" to go to the bathroom, but on returning found the singer had stopped breathing, Martinez said.