Dr Conrad Murray looked like a defeated man before the jury spoke, his eyes vacant and lips pursed as he sat in the downtown Los Angeles courtroom in front of pop icon Michael Jackson's family, his own loved ones and cameras beaming his fate live around the world.
The look remained when the 12-member jury's verdict was revealed while Jackson's sister, La Toya, sitting in the second row of the public gallery, let out a loud shriek.
Murray, a 58-year-old Caribbean-born cardiologist earning $US150,000 a month to care for Jackson ahead of a sold-out 50 concert run at London's O2 Arena, was found guilty of the pop star's involuntary manslaughter.
The jury's verdict was swift - less than nine hours of deliberation after a six week trial - but not as speedy as the burly LA County Sheriffs who moved in behind Murray, guided his hands behind his back and slapped on handcuffs while Judge Michael Pastor was still addressing the court.
"We can wait a few moments," the judge told the sheriffs, who stepped back, but kept Murray cuffed.
Murray faces up to four years' jail, however just as Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and other LA celebrity inmates have shown, California's crowded jail system grants non-violent offenders early release. Lohan spent just five hours in jail on Monday despite a sentence of 30 days.
If Murray, who had a clean record before the conviction, is hit with the maximum four years at the November 29 sentencing, the overcrowding could lead to a heavily discounted sentence or home detention.
LA County District Attorney Steve Cooley admitted Murray will probably not serve "an appropriate sentence".
Murray will also likely face a civil suit filed by the Jackson family.
Judge Pastor's decision to refuse Murray bail after the jury verdict surprised legal analysts, with the judge pointing to the seriousness of the offence, Murray's "significant ties" outside of California and the "demonstrable risk" he presents to public safety as reasons to keep him behind bars before his sentencing.
"This is a crime where the end result was the death of a human being," Judge Pastor said.
"That factor demonstrates rather dramatically the public should be protected."
Damning evidence was presented by prosecutors against Murray, including 17 separate violations of standard of care while looking after Jackson.
Murray ordered more than 15 litres of the powerful anaesthetic propofol, with shipments arriving at the LA residence of Murray's girlfriend despite Murray telling authorities he was attempting to wean his patient off propofol.
Experts told the court propofol should only be used in fully-equipped hospitals with the appropriate medical staff and resuscitative equipment nearby, but Murray fed it into Jackson's veins nightly by intravenous drip in the bedroom of the pop star's rented Holmby Hills mansion and without assistance or back-up equipment.
Prosecutor David Walgren, praised for his handling of the trial, accused Murray of performing "a pharmaceutical experiment" on Jackson by administering the propofol to overcome Jackson's insomnia, a form of treatment unheard of and something other doctors refused to do for Jackson.
The autopsy on Jackson, who died June 25, 2009, found he died from acute propofol intoxication.
La Toya, who Tweeted "Victory!" after the verdict, sat in the courtroom with her parents Katherine and Joe and siblings Randy, Jermaine and Rebbe and supporters, including Kathy Hilton.
Jackson's children Prince, 14, Paris, 13, and Blanket, 9 were not in court.
"Even though nothing can bring back our son, justice has finally been served!" the Jackson family said in a statement.
A bizarre mix of Jackson and Murray supporters, some in costumes and waving placards, filled the sidewalk outside the court complex with media members, sticky-beakers and bedraggled Occupy Wall Street protesters who wandered over from their nearby LA encampment.
After Judge Pastor gave sheriffs the nod they could take Murray to the courthouse lock-up, they led the handcuffed prisoner to a door on the left side of the courtroom.
Murray gave his distraught mother, daughter and girlfriend a knowing nod.
His girlfriend Nicole Alvarez mouthed back "I love you".
Not long after Murray disappeared behind the door, the pin-striped grey suit he was wearing re-appeared, with a sheriff bringing it out and handing it to Murray's loved ones.
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