The 57-year-old cardiologist ' who is accused of administering a lethal amount of the anaesthetic Propofol to Michael Jackson prior to his death on June 25, 2009 ' appeared at Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday (23.08.10) for a brief session, where a preliminary hearing date of January 4 was set by Judge Michael Pastor.

The preliminary hearing will see prosecutors lay out some of the evidence against Dr. Murray ' who has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter - before the judge decides whether to send him to trial.

He was charged in February with administering a lethal dose of the powerful drug to the King of Pop, but his lawyers claim the doctor did not give him anything that 'should have killed him'.

In the court yesterday, the physician's legal team won the right to get fluid samples from Michael Jackson as part of their defence.

The late 'Thriller' hitmaker's family, including parents Joe and Katherine Jackson, attended yesterday's meeting, while the singer's fans gathered outside the courthouse.

Upon leaving the court, Dr. Murray was subject to a torrent of verbal abuse, with the crowd outside branding him a 'murderer'.

Despite being implicated in Jackson's death, Dr. Murray has been allowed to continue practicing medicine and has not had his license revoked.