Michael Jackson's doctor in court

Members of Michael Jackson's family have arrived at a Los Angeles Superior Court to attend the first day of hearings on whether to proceed with a trial against the late singer's physician, Conrad Murray.

Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of pop star Michael Jackson.

Prosecutors are expected to begin offering evidence that Murray is responsible for the singer's death in a case that could hinge on who gave the singer a fatal dose of a powerful drug he used for sleep.

Murray arrived at the courthouse for the hearing in a black Mercedes and was escorted into the building away from the media through an underground entrance.

Jackson, one of the best-selling recording artists of all time who generated hits like Thriller and Billie Jean, died of a prescription drug overdose on June 25, 2009, at age 50, after suffering cardiac arrest while in bed at his rented mansion.

Murray has admitted injecting Jackson with the powerful anesthetic propofol, which has been determined to be a key factor in his death. The drug is used mostly in hospital settings, but it was given to Jackson at home as a sleep aid.

Prosecutors hope to paint the doctor, who was hired by a concert promoter to care for Jackson before a series of performances, as a man who was in financial trouble and would irresponsibly give the singer drugs to keep his paycheck.

Murray has pleaded not guilty, and last week defense attorneys indicated they may focus on a mysterious syringe found near Jackson to explore whether someone other than Murray injected the singer with the fatal dose of propofol.