Conrad Murray, the doctor who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson’s death, has been put on suicide watch in a Los Angeles prison amid suggestions that he could be set to cash in on his crime.
The 58-year-old cardiologist has been assigned special protection by prison authorities to prevent him being attacked by other inmates, the Telegraph reported.
He will have a single cell and an escort will go with him when he moves around inside the Los Angeles County jail.
After his conviction it appeared that Murray had been co-operating with a documentary team for the last two years, and the film will be broadcast around the world later this week.
The film, Michael Jackson and The Doctor: A Fatal Friendship, was made by British producers October Films and directed by award-winning documentary maker Tom Roberts.
October Films said Murray was paid a nominal 1 million dollars fee for the film.
But the doctor could later profit through interview and book deals in America.
California’s so-called "Son of Sam" law, which had prevented felons profiting from publicity surrounding their crimes, was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 2002, allowing convicts like Murray to sell their stories.
Murray also gave filmmakers access to his lawyers’ meetings.
The film will be shown on Channel 4 in the UK and MSNBC in the United States this week.