Conrad Murray "Not Doing Well" in Jail, but Bail Request Still Denied

Michael Jackson's personal doctor may as well start singing the blues as he's not getting out of the slammer anytime soon

By Josh Grossberg, Baker Machado Feb 24, 2012 6:52 PMTags
Conrad Murray, Mug ShotLos Angeles Country Sheriff's Dept.

It still sucks to be Conrad Murray.

Moments after a Los Angeles judge turned down a request by Michael Jackson's incarcerated physician to release him on bail, his attorney told E! News that the cardiologist is "not doing well" and then immediately pulled the Whitney Houston card.

Murray will instead remain behind bars as his lawyers appeal last November's conviction for involuntary manslaughter in the pop legend's death.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor sided with prosecutors who argued that Murray was a flight risk,  even if he submitted to electronic monitoring.

Outside the courtroom, Murray's lawyer, J. Michael Flanagan, told E! News that the cardiologist is "not doing well" two months into his four-year sentence and has lost 30 to 40 pounds.

Flanagan was flanked by Murray's appeals attorney, Valarie Wass, who says she took the case on despite Murray's well-documented financial woes because she believes it "provides substantial legal issues."

"I believe [Murray] was a scapegoat, she says.

"[Prosecutors] got to find somebody to blame," added Flanagan. "They are still trying to find someone to blame for the death of Whitney Houston."

That last remark was a not so subtle reference to the ongoing probe into possible doctor shopping in the wake of Houston's sudden passing on Feb. 11 and whether the singer was illegally prescribed medications that may have killed her.

Murray was found guilty of administering a lethal dose of the surgical anethetic propofol to Jackson. Murray is expected to serve less than two years of his sentence due to chronic overcrowding in the Los Angeles County Jail.

Flanagan says he would prefer if Murray were transferred to the state prison where he "would be allowed more freedom" but admits that's unlikely.

We're pretty sure the Jackson family is fine with that.