Michael Jackson’s doctor returns to court in April to find out the date for the next major step in the case — a proceeding that will reveal for the first time the evidence the prosecution believes will show that his “gross negligence” was the direct cause of the pop star’s death.

Dr Conrad Murray pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and a judge released him on US$75,000 bail.

Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz ordered Murray to turn in his passport and said he could travel within the US, but not to any foreign country. The prosecutor had suggested he might flee to his native Grenada or to Trinidad where he has a child.

Murray was ordered to return April 5 to have another date set for his preliminary hearing. That proceeding, a virtual mini-trial, will disclose the evidence prosecutors maintain will demonstrate Murray’s “gross negligence”.

Murray is accused of giving Jackson a fatal dose of an anaesthetic to help him sleep. Jackson died June 25, 2009. If convicted, the doctor could face up to four years in prison.

Schwartz told Murray he was restricting his practice of medicine, barring him from using any anaesthetic agent, specifically the drug Propofol that a coroner’s report found was the cause of Jackson’s death with other drugs as contributing factors.

Immediately after the hearing, LaToya Jackson issued a statement saying she believed her brother had been murdered.

“I will continue to fight until all of the proper individuals are brought forth and justice is served,” LaToya said. She was in court along with siblings including Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy.

–AP

Rihanna goes back to her roots with Caribbean-themed new video for Rude Boy

She’s one of the Caribbean’s most famous female exports and Rihanna has decided to pay homage to her West Indian roots in her new video.

The promo for the 21-year-old’s new single Rude Boy is just as racy as her previous efforts, but this time the singer took inspiration from her homeland.

In one shot from the video she is seen wearing a revealing gold net outfit that barely covers her modesty, topped off with a leopard print hat.

Rihanna recently confirmed the inspiration behind the video: “A lot of my videos are really dark and edgy and tough. Rude Boy is more playing along the lines from my roots. We used a lot of colour, but also the costumes were very Jamaican dancehall queen type.”

–Daily Mail

Renee Zellweger’s beau Bradley Cooper’s red carpet tanning disaster

Attending the premiere of Valentine’s Day with the likes of Jessica Alba, Julia Roberts and Demi Moore last night, Bradley Cooper was probably expecting to be overshadowed by the Hollywood beauties.

But as he stepped onto the red carpet of the star-studded Los Angeles screening last night, The Hangover star soon found that he was the centre of attention.

The 35-year-old appeared to be suffering from a fake tan malfunction, with only about two-thirds of his face appearing bronzed.

In comparison, the skin under his chin stubble was his normal colour.

Clearly hoping not to look too pale under the bright lights of the cameras, it appeared Cooper had been rather heavy-handed when applying his fake tan.

–Daily Mail

Pink in need of rouge as she steps out without make-up

Maybe she was making a romantic meal for on-off husband Carey Hart when she realised she’d forgotten the all-important wine.

Whatever the reason, Pink must have been in a hurry to leave the house without a scrap of make-up on.

The So What star looked pale and puffy-eyed without her usual slap — and was clearly embarrassed when she saw the waiting cameras.

The 30-year-old star, who looked considerably older without her war paint, tried to hide her face with a box of wine and a huge woolly hat.

She had popped to her local wine shop in the affluent neighbourhood of Sherman Oaks, California — just around the corner from the mansion she shares with her other half.

–Daily Mail