LA Country Coroner: "Brittany Murphy's Death Accidental"

Citing pneumonia complicated by anemia, iron deficiency and multiple-drug intoxication, the findings ruled that Murphy's death was "accidental" and could have been prevented had she seen a doctor much earlier. Her sudden cardiac arrest was caused by "drug intake". The drugs involved were not specified, but spokesman for the coroner's office, Craig Harvey, stated they were all "prescription drugs". A full autopsy report will be released in 2 weeks.

Husband Simon Monjack was doubtful about the verdict, saying he and Murphy's mother, Sharon, were "surprised" by the findings. Monjack, who spoke to People Magazine, said they expected the cause of death to be attributed to a "congenital heart murmur".

Monjack also denied claims that Murphy used illegal drugs and suffered from an eating disorder, as well as refuting claims of the severity of the pneumonia she was suffering from at the time of her death, saying she wasn't "that ill".

Despite the belief of some quarters that Monjack himself should be investigated for his role in Murphy's death, coroner's assistant Ed Winters stated that no one could be held criminally liable as her death had been ruled an accident.