Michael Jackson Doctor's Pre-Trial Set for 2011

Conrad Murray is finally getting his day in court, but it won't be until 2011 -- some 19 months after Michael Jackson died of prescription medication overdose under his care.

Judge Michael Pastor set Jan. 4, 2011, as the preliminary hearing date in Murray’s manslaughter trial. Pastor made the announcement in front of Murray, who was in court Monday morning in a brown suit and red tie.

Sitting at the defense table, Murray seemed to actively avoid the gaze of Joe and Katherine Jackson, Michael's parents, who were also present. The hearing lasted a mere 20 minutes.

A late October status hearing was also set in anticipation of Murray's preliminary hearing. The January preliminary hearing is a virtual mini-trial to determine whether there's enough evidence to move forward.

As they’ve done in the past, a large contingent of Michael’s admirers -- easily in the hundreds -- and followers showed up at the downtown courthouse, including some who said they came from as far as Russia. They’ll have plenty of chances to air their grievances next year, as the actual trial is expected to stretch deep into 2011.

Murray pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter back in February. If found guilty, he could face up to four years in prison.

At that Feb. hearing, Judge Keith Schwartz stopped Murray's ability to administer certain sedatives like Propofol directly to patients in the states of California, Texas and Nevada. Propofol has been cited as the principal cause of Jackson’s death last June, though a number of medications were found at his rented Los Angeles home.

MORE ... Source : The Wrap.com