Conrad Murray too poor to fund appeal

Michael Jackson's doctor on Tuesday asked for a publicly-funded lawyer to handle his appeal on a manslaughter conviction in the pop star's death, saying he could not afford to pay for one himself.

Dr. Conrad Murray, serving a four-year jail term for the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson in 2009, filed papers with Los Angeles Superior Court saying he was unable to fund his legal help any longer.

"The defendant is indigent and respectfully requests the appointment of counsel on appeal," the court papers said.

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Murray said he wished to appeal both his conviction and his sentence but so far has not filed formal papers with the California appeals court.

The 58-year-old cardiologist had hired two lawyers for his six-week trial, but he was convicted in November of involuntary manslaughter, or gross negligence, after admitting he gave the "Thriller" singer nightly doses of the surgical anesthetic propofol to help Jackson sleep.

MORE from E!: Jackson family reacts to Conrad Murray's dwindling jail sentence

Murray's previous attorney J. Michael Flanagan is outraged at the doctor's treatment in the slammer, telling E! News that "it is crazy and unbelievable how [the sheriffs] are treating" Murray in jail.

Flanagan said that after waiting for over an hour to visit the doctor Monday, Murray arrived with his feet and hands cuffed, and was then handcuffed to the table for their meeting. "I've never seen something like this before," for someone serving for this particular crime, the attorney told E! News.

Story: Murray gets 4-year sentence, tongue-lashing from judge

He also adds that Murray's cell is next to a member that is in jail for gang murder.

Flanagan also explained to E! News that he doesn't handle appeals and that is why he isn't representing Murray in this process. He said he has offered advice about whom Murray should have represent him, but said, "Whoever does it has a big undertaking" with all the evidence involved.

Jackson, 50, died on June 25, 2009 of an overdose of propofol and sedatives, just weeks before a series of planned comeback concerts.

Reuters and E! Online contributed to this report.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45662442/ns/today-entertainment/

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