Comment 22 for bug 973951

same issue here, if i kill mysqld, upon doing an upgrade, it seems to restart mysqld

Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 250650 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace mysql-server-5.5 5.5.22-0ubuntu1 (using .../mysql-server-5.5_5.5.24-0ubuntu0.12.04.1_amd64.deb) ...
invoke-rc.d: initscript mysql, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
invoke-rc.d: initscript mysql, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/mysql-server-5.5_5.5.24-0ubuntu0.12.04.1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
invoke-rc.d: initscript mysql, action "stop" failed.
invoke-rc.d: initscript mysql, action "start" failed.
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/mysql-server-5.5_5.5.24-0ubuntu0.12.04.1_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)