MikeLigalig.com

The doctor accused of giving Michael Jackson a lethal dose of anaesthetic will be allowed to work in California as he awaits trial, a court has ruled.

During a brief procedural hearing, a Los Angeles judge said he did not have the authority to ban Dr Conrad Murray.

Members of the popstar's family were inside court to hear the ruling.

Dr Murray, 57, denies involuntary manslaughter of Jackson, who died last June. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 23 August.

California's attorney general had asked the judge to suspend the cardiologist in the run-up to the trial. -bbc