Conrad Murray placed on suicide watch at jail

Dr. Conrad Murray was placed on suicide watch at the L.A. County Jail on Monday, hours after he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson's death and being taken into custody.

Immediately after the verdict, Murray was placed in handcuffs at the direction of the judge, to remain behind bars pending his Nov. 29 sentencing.

FULL COVERAGE: Trial of Conrad Murray

A law enforcement source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment, said Murray was placed on suicide watch once in custody.

With its verdict, the jury found that Murray acted with criminal negligence and that those actions were a substantial factor in Jackson's death in 2009. The panel rejected the defense assertion that Jackson gave himself a fatal overdose of propofol and therefore bore complete responsibility for his own death.

"This is a crime where the end result was the death of a human being. That factor demands rather dramatically that the public should be protected," L.A. County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said.

The cardiologist, who had once told patients that working for Jackson was "the opportunity of a lifetime," faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

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-- Harriet Ryan, Victoria Kim and Robert Faturechi

Photo: Dr. Conrad Murray is handcuffed after being convicted in the death of Michael Jackson. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times / Pool / Nov. 7, 2011)