Pop star Michael Jackson`s doctor was sentenced to four years in prison.

Conrad Murray, the US doctor convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of pop superstar Michael Jackson, has been sentenced to four years in county jail.

Murray was found guilty earlier this month after a six-week trial. Judge Michael Pastor told the court that while Murray was legally eligible for probation, he did not think his actions showed he was suitable, BBC reported.

He said the evidence in the case showed a "continuous pattern of lies and deceit" by Murray.

Prosecutors and defence will return in January 2012 to discuss the prosecution's request for restitution to Jackson's family.

While the prosecution successfully argued for the maximum term, Murray's lawyers asked that he be kept on probation, saying he is serving "a lifetime sentence of self-punishment".

Defence lawyer Ed Chernoff said he would already be punished for life by being known as "the man who killed Michael Jackson".

In addition, Murray could still lose his licence to practise medicine. 'Trust abused'.

As the sentencing hearing began a family friend of the Jackson family, lawyer Brian Panish, read a statement on behalf of the family.

Expressing their sense of loss for their "son, husband, brother and father", the statement said the court should impose a suitable sentence.

"We respectfully request that you impose a sentence that demonstrates that physicians cannot sell their services to the highest bidder and lose sight of their Hippocratic oath," Mr Panish read.

In a sentencing memorandum delivered to Judge Michael Pastor in advance of Tuesday's hearing, Mr Walgren said Murray had shown no remorse for Jackson's death.