I don't understand why Murry wasn't charged with second degree murder. I'm not from the states and couldn't find the
definition of second degree murder in the California Penal code - it starts right with what seems to be a
definition of first degree murder: "Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought." link:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=187-199
I did find a
definition of second degree murder in another place and it seem to fit what Murry did: "Second-degree murder is ordinarily defined as 1) an intentional killing that is not premeditated or planned, nor committed in a reasonable "heat of passion" or 2) a killing caused by dangerous conduct and the offender's obvious lack of concern for human life. Second-degree murder may best be viewed as the middle ground between first degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. link:
http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/a-z/murder_second_degree.html
It seems obvious to me that Murry acted in a way that showed lack of concern for human life. So I don't understand, even if the coroner could not establish a TOD why would it matter? Isn't it enough that he administered lorazepam and then propfol? and on top of that didn't monitor Michael the way he should have?