Dr. Conrad Murray’s request for bail was denied today (24.02.12).

The doctor is serving four years for the involuntary manslaughter of his patient, Michael Jackson – who died in June 2009 of acute Propofol intoxication – and was today told by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor he must stay in jail ahead of his appeal of the conviction, as he poses a flight risk. The judge said: “The bottom line is the defence does not have significant property or employment or family ties in the Los Angeles or California area. If he were to go to another country, that country might very well allow him to practice medicine.”

Shortly after his bail request was denied, Dr. Murray’s lawyer, J. Michael Flanagan, told E! News his client is “not doing well.”

Dr. Murray has so far served just two months in jail, during which time Flanagan says he has lost 30 to 40lbs, and he added his client is being held in solitary confinement “23 hours of the day and sometimes 24.”

The lawyer also said he would prefer if Dr. Murray was transferred from Los Angeles County Jail to a state prison where he “would be allowed more freedom” but admitted that is an unlikely possibility.

The medic is likely to serve less than two years of his sentence due to chronic overcrowding at Los Angeles County Jail.