While the news media seems to be all over this late breaking story, this latest so-called news is nothing more than an attempt by yellow journalists to keep milking the unfortunate demise of Michael Jackson for all its worth.
The moment the announcement of the amended death certificate was released, people jumped to the conclusion that Jackson had been murdered. However any first year law student knows homicide does not, necessarily mean that this is the case.
The legal definition of a homicide is simply; The unlawful killing of one human being by another human being. A Homicide is not murder unless there is some evidence of malice, or intent, and to what degree. The intent of the person who participated in the killing determines whether a criminal homicide is classified as murder or manslaughter. Negligent homicide is usually categorized as manslaughter, but the word manslaughter doesn’t have the same sensational appeal as the word homicide, especially to rabid fans who still can’t get enough of anything “Michael”.
There was never any doubt that Jackson did not die of “natural” causes. Reports that he had been taking numerous drugs for years were common knowledge, and if the authorities were to arrest every doctor who prescribed drugs to Jackson or other friends and family who helped administer them to Jackson, it would probably fill the Staples Center as much, if not more, than attended his memorial service.
Over the years, many celebrities have had their lives and careers brought to an early end due to an “accidental overdose of prescription drugs”. Not once were any of the doctors who prescribed the drugs ever prosecuted, or even charged. Of course in these circumstances, the victim usually opened the bottle and downed the drugs without anyone’s help, but what if they were handed the bottle by someone else? Or, perhaps they had already taken several pills, then asked someone else to simply get them a few more so they could sleep? Would that person have been help responsible for their death as well? Possibly, but highly unlikely.
Of course the Michael Jackson story is far from over. The public’s thirst for sensationalism is never satisfied. Ruling Jackson’s death a homicide certainly makes for a much better sound bite then reporting that he had simply died of an abusive drug habit , and eventual overdose.
Because then he would be no more of an icon, or a role model, or a “hero”, then the dead junkie lying in the gutter.
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