Police search Jackson doctor clinic

Jul 22 2009

Police who searched the Houston clinic of Michael Jackson's doctor were seeking evidence of manslaughter, according to his lawyer.

Dr Conrad Murray had been interviewed by police as a witness to the pop star's death, but has not been considered a suspect.

Police have said little about the investigation, neither confirming nor denying the possibility of criminal charges.

Dr Murray has emerged as a central figure in the investigation. The doctor, who had been recently hired by Jackson, was with him in his mansion when he died and tried to revive him.

Los Angeles police and US Drug Enforcement Administration agents searched the Armstrong Medical Clinic for more than two hours on Wednesday. They said they were searching for documents.

"The search warrant authorised law enforcement to search for and seize items, including documents, they believed constituted evidence of the offense of manslaughter," said Ed Chernoff, Dr Murray's solicitor, in a statement posted on his law firm's website. The warrant remains sealed and unavailable to the media.

Mr Chernoff said agents left with "a forensic image" of a computer hard drive and 21 documents.

Houston police surrounded the building as the investigators went inside at about 10.30am on Wednesday. DEA spokeswoman Violet Szeleczky said about 20 people were in the Armstrong Medical Clinic, including employees.

A crowd gathered to watch the raid until agents left after 1pm and Houston police told reporters and the onlookers to leave the clinic's property.

Ms Szeleczky said the agents were looking for Murray's records, not drugs, but would not give details. She declined to say how the search related to Jackson's death.