Michael Jackson's physician DR. CONRAD MURRAY has chosen to stay away from the official celebrations surrounding the anniversary of his most famous patient's death next week (25Jun10) - because he doesn't want to cause the Jackson family any heartache.
The doctor is accused of administering the anaesthetic Propofol, which killed the King of Pop, and has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges.
He has been vilified by members of the Jackson family, who seem intent on doing what they can to ensure Murray is harshly punished when his court case begins following a preliminary hearing on 23 August (10).
And the doctor insists he won't be testing emotions by attending a memorial for friends, family members and fans at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California - where Jackson was laid to rest last year (09).
A source close to the medic tells X17Online.com, "He's going to be mourning privately. Dr. Murray has visited Michael numerous times at Forest Lawn, but he doesn't want to distract any attention away from the family's grieving process... especially on that day."