Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, has formally pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the popstar's death in 2009.
The appearance of the singer's physician at Los Angeles Superior Court was witnessed by members of Michael's family including his mother Katherine and older sister Rebbie.
When asked by Judge Michael Pastor how he pleaded, Murray said: "Your honour, I am an innocent man. I plead not guilty."
The judge then set a trial date of March 28 and a pre-trial hearing for February 7.
If convicted, Murray could face a maximum of four years in prison.
Speaking outside court, the physician's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, said Murray was certain the jury would understand his side: "Dr. Murray has absolute faith in the jury system and absolute faith in people in general.
He doesn't worry about it and we're not going to worry about it either."
Murray was with Michael Jackson when he died, aged 50, on June 25 2009, from what coroners ruled was an overdose of the powerful anaesthetic Propofol and a cocktail of sedatives.
The doctor stood trial earlier this month after a six-day preliminary hearing whereby witnesses testified that Murray was slow to call for help on the morning of Jackson's death, and that he tried to hide evidence of Propofol in the singer's bedroom.
Defense lawyers have suggested that Michael, who was in the middle of rehearsals for his 50-date comeback tour, may have injected himself with the fatal dose of Propofol, which he was using as a sleep aid.
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