Your trusted source

A US court has rejected Conrad Murray's bid to have his conviction for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson overturned, the BBC said. 

The Los Angeles appeal court ruled there was substantial evidence of guilt laid out at his trial in 2011.

Murray was sentenced to four years in jail, but was released last October after serving two years of his term.

The ex-medic was convicted of administering a lethal dose of an anaesthetic drug to Jackson in 2009.

In a ruling amounting to 68 pages, the court said the pop star "was a vulnerable victim and that [Murray] was in a position of trust, and violated the trust relationship by breaching standards of professional conduct in numerous respects."

The court also said that imposing the maximum sentence of four years at the original trial was right, as the evidence revealed a "callous disregard" for the singer's health and safety.

They added that it was clear that Murray "administered a number of dangerous drugs to Mr. Jackson without the appropriate medical equipment, precautions or personnel in place."

Their ruling also concluded that Murray had been wrong to leave Jackson unattended at the time.

Murray's appeal argued that the trial judge had excluded jurors from hearing evidence.

It was also argued that the judge quashed attempts by Murray's lawyers to introduce arguments about other doctors who had treated Jackson.

His legal representative Valerie Wass said that Murray's intention is to take the matter to a higher court.