Conrad Murray, the US doctor convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of pop superstar Michael Jackson, has been sentenced to four years in county jail.

超级巨星迈克尔·杰克逊的私人医生康拉德·默里因过失杀人罪被判四年有期徒刑。

Murray was found guilty earlier this month after a six-week trial.

Judge Michael Pastor¹ told the court that while Murray was legally eligible² for probation³, he did not think his actions showed he was suitable.

He said the evidence in the case showed a "continuous pattern of lies and deceit（欺骗，谎言） " by the disgraced physician.

The legal teams will return in January 2012 to discuss the prosecution⁴'s request for Murray to pay restitution⁵（恢复，赔偿） to Jackson's family.

While the prosecution successfully argued for the maximum term, Murray's lawyers asked that he be kept on probation, saying he is serving "a lifetime sentence of self-punishment".

Defence lawyer Ed Chernoff said he would already be punished for life by being known as "the man who killed Michael Jackson".

In addition, Murray could still lose his licence to practice medicine.

'Trust abused'

As the sentencing hearing began, lawyer Brian Panish, a family friend of the Jackson family, read a statement on their behalf.

Expressing their sense of loss for their "son, husband, brother and father", the statement said the court should impose a suitable sentence.

"We respectfully request that you impose a sentence that demonstrates that physicians cannot sell their services to the highest bidder⁶ and lose sight of their Hippocratic Oath," Mr Panish read.

In a sentencing memorandum⁷（备忘录） delivered to Judge Michael Pastor in advance of Tuesday's hearing, prosecuting⁸ lawyer David Walgren said Murray had shown no remorse⁹（懊悔） for Jackson's death.

Defence lawyers argued that Murray had done a huge service to the community throughout his life, including donating supplies to Caribbean doctors and opening a clinic in the poorest area of Houston, Texas.

"I do wonder though to what extent the court considers the entirety of a man's book of life, as opposed to one chapter," Mr Chernoff said, adding that Murray could better serve the community on probation.