newsmakers

newsmakers

Jackson’s doctor pleads not guilty

LOS ANGELES

Michael Jackson’s doctor pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the pop superstar’s death as the case moved rapidly toward a trial that likely will be televised.

“Your honor, I am an innocent man,” Dr. Conrad Murray told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor in a soft voice. “I definitely plead not guilty.”

Lawyers for Murray, who is accused of giving Jackson a lethal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and other sedatives, said they would be ready to go to trial within the 60-day statutory time limit, which would make for an unusually speedy trial.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said the prosecution would be ready to go as well for the trial he estimated would last six weeks. The judge scheduled the trial to begin March 28 and set a pretrial hearing for Feb. 7.

Royals making plans for William’s wedding

LONDON

The invites for the royal event of the year aren’t even in the mail, but some among the European blue-blood set say they have already been given a quiet tap on the shoulder.

Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and the Romanian royals say they’re among the hundreds of privileged guests expected at the wedding of Britain’s Prince William and his fianc e, Kate Middleton, in London on April 29.

Formal invitations to the widely anticipated event aren’t expected to go out until February. But the Romanian royal family will be among those attending, its office told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia said in a statement posted to his website that he and his wife, Crown Princess Katherine, also had been invited.

“Their Royal Highnesses are delighted to attend the marriage and are very happy for the young couple,” the statement said.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether any other European royalty already had received an informal save-the-date for the wedding at historic Westminster Abbey. A British royal spokeswoman declined to comment on the guest list, which still is being finalized.

Neither Alexander nor ex-King Michael, who heads the Romanian royal family, are current heads of state.