(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Dr. Conrad Murray absolutely "did not kill Michael Jackson", his defence team told jurors Thursday.

Defence attorney Ed Chernoff addressed the jurors with his closing arguments yesterday in the trial against Murray for the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson.

RadarOnline reports that Chernoff contended Jackson administered a lethal dose of sedatives to himself in June 2009. From the defence's point of view, Murray had nothing to do with the singer's death.

"Dr. Murray did not kill Michael Jackson," Chernoff said. "Michael Jackson went into his personal bathroom and swallowed Lorazepam and Dr. Murray didn't know."

Chernoff maintained that Jackson himself was to blame for his demise and classified Murray as the public scapegoat for the tragic loss of an icon.

"[Murray is] just a little fish in a big dirty pond," Chernoff said. "Somebody's got to say it ... If it were anybody else but Michael Jackson ... anybody else, would this doctor be here today?"

Chernoff also believes that the prosecution did not actually prove that Murray participated in any illicit activity the day Jackson passed.

"[The prosecution] can't prove a crime, and they really need to prove a crime," Chernoff said.

Chernoff implored the jurors to approach deliberation on the case with a fresh, unbiased perspective.

"This is not a reality show, this is reality," he said in closing. "I hope that you do the right thing and find Dr. Murray not guilty."

Jury deliberations will begin this morning.

If Murray is found guilty he faces the loss of his medical licence and four years in state prison. (C) Cover Media