The trial of Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray will begin Jan 4, 2011, a judge has decided.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge stemming from the death in June 2009 of his famous patient.

Prosecutors have charged that Murray gave Jackson a lethal dose of the anaesthetic propofil as a sleep aid, just before the former King of Pop was set to launch his comeback with a series of sold-out shows in London.

Following Monday's decision by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, the January court date will start with a preliminary hearing in which Pastor will hear from both sides before deciding if there is enough evidence to go ahead with a trial.