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An American jury found a Filipino American doctor guilty of felony murder and drug violations in connection with the 2005 death of his patient, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau reported Monday.   

In a unanimous decision after a five-day trial, the report said a Camden County jury found Dr. Noel Chua guilty of prescribing drugs to 20-year-old Jamie Carter III that eventually led to his death. The jury deliberated for 11 hours.

Judge Amanda Williams immediately sentenced the 45-year-old doctor to life imprisonment plus five years for violation of Georgia’s Controlled Substance Act.

Investigations showed that Carter, who was also the doctor’s employee and housemate, had overdosed at their home where the victim’s body was found in December 2005.

During the trial, prosecutors said Chua had prescribed different narcotic pain killers including methadone and morphine to Carter despite the victim’s medical records indicating that he had a drug problem.

The prosecution team presented a medical expert, police, Carter’s stepmother and two teenagers who testified that Chua gave them prescription drugs. The team also submitted pieces of evidence showing that Chua had violated state medical standards in prescribing the drugs.

But the defense argued that the prescription was meant to treat Carter’s “chronic pain syndrome” and that the doctor was unaware about the victim’s addiction.  A defense witness, a medical expert, also testified that Chua was careful in giving prescriptions to Carter.

Meanwhile, Scott Alexander, Chua’s friend and who was present during the hearings, said he believes that the doctor did not get a fair trial.

Alexander also said the judge kept interjecting in favor of the prosecution and instructed the defense lawyer to "get it over with" when the defense team was presenting its evidence.

Alexander also said  the prosecution accused Chua of being a pedophile after it presented a former patient who revealed her “sexual relations” with the physician.

abs-cbnnews.com

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