(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Conrad Murray could be released from jail as early as Christmas, his lawyer has claimed.

Valerie Wass revealed Michael Jackson's former physician could be freed within weeks because of prison overcrowding.

The 59-year-old is currently serving a four-year sentence at the Los Angeles County Jail after being convicted of the late pop star's involuntary manslaughter.

"I hope Conrad may be allowed to come home for Christmas. It is ridiculous he has been in there for a year. He is not dangerous, violent or the type you need to take off the streets to punish him," Wass told British newspaper The Sun exclusively. "They have already stripped him of his medical license and it is a waste of everybody's time and money to have him in there."

Murray's lawyers are in the process of filing a motion for him to do community service rather than serve his full four years.

The struck-off doctor has been struggling in jail and was recently moved to a bigger cell for health reasons after he was rushed to hospital with a suspected blood clot.

"He's being housed like a piece of veal," attorney Michael Flanagan recently told press. "He can't even do jumping jacks in his cell. Anybody who watched the [involuntary manslaughter] trial that ended almost a year ago, they wouldn't recognise him walking on the street today. His hair has turned grey. He's down 20 or 30 pounds. He's very gaunt-looking and has a hard time walking." (C) Cover Media