DR CONRAD MURRAY HAS pleaded not guilty to the involuntary manslaughter of pop star Michael Jackson in 2009, the PA reports.

Michael Jackson, 50, was rushed to hospital from his LA home on 25 June, 2009, on suspicion of suffering a cardiac arrest.

He could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at UCLA Medical Centre.

Murray is accused of injecting Jackson with a lethal dose of the strong anaesthetic Propofol, which is meant for hospital rather than home use.

The head of Jackson’s security gave evidence earlier this month regarding the death. The court heard that Murray, Jackson’s doctor, had waited 21 minutes before calling an ambulance, the Telegraph reported, and the prosecution claimed Murray tried to conceal that he had administered Propofol to the singer.

Addressing the court yesterday in a preliminary hearing, Murray pleaded not guilty and said: “I’m an innocent man”.

His defence team told the media outside the court that Murray was looking forward to “telling his side of the story”, and has been waiting 22 months for that opportunity, E!Online reports.

A trial date has been set for 28 March, and another pretrial hearing will be held on 7 February.