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發表於 2009-6-27 09:28:19
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Drug allegations in Jackson deathPublished: 27/06/2009 at 02:52 AMLos Angeles (AFP) - Michael Jackson's autopsygot under way Friday as attention turned to the possible role of drugsin the King of Pop's death and tributes poured in from all corners ofthe globe.
The King of Pop at a concert in France
Jackson collapsed suddenly at his rented mansion in Los Angeles onThursday and was rushed to hospital by paramedics before beingpronounced dead, news that reverberated around the world withnear-seismic impact.
An autopsy began Friday but amid heartfelt tributes speculationmounted about the cause of death for the 50-year-old who sold more than750 million records and whose music defined the 1980s.
Los Angeles Coroner's spokesman Ed Winter meanwhile indicated that afinal verdict into Jackson's death would probably not be issued untilthe results of toxicology tests were known, a period that could takeseveral weeks.
"I can tell you the likelihood is slim that we will have any resultsreleased today because of the extent and level of the tests we aregoing to be performing," Winter told reporters.
Jackson lawyer Brian Oxman said he and family members voicedconcerns over the star's use of drugs as he prepared for a gruellingseries of comeback concerts in London designed to relaunch his career.
"I know Michael was rehearsing and working extremely hard to get inshape in order to perform in London," Oxman told ABC television's GoodMorning America. "He was taking it seriously and I think he was indiscomfort because he was working so very hard.
"The family tried many times, and I spoke to family members and Isaid to them 'If this situation arises where Michael perishes becauseof medications -- if we one day wake up and he's dead because of thesemedications I will not hold my tongue, I will speak out and I willspeak out loud."
Celebrity website TMZ.com -- which broke the news of Jackson's deathThursday -- reported Friday that the star had been administered aninjection of the powerful painkiller Demerol about an hour before helost consciousness.
Family members told TMZ the dosage was "too much."
TMZ reported that police were searching for Jackson's physician. TheLos Angeles Police Department would not immediately confirm the report.
Jackson's former producer Tarak Ben Ammar denounced the doctors around the late pop icon as "criminals."
"It's clear that the criminals in this affair are the doctors whotreated him throughout his career, who destroyed his face, who gave himmedicine to ease his pain," he told France's Europe 1 radio.
"He was a hypochondriac and one never really knew if he was sickbecause he had become surrounded by charlatan doctors who were billinghim thousands and thousands of dollars worth of drugs, vitamins...,"said the Tunisian producer.
Jackson's family, including the star's three young children, werehuddled at an estate in the northern Los Angeles suburb of Encino.
The fate of Jackson's children -- two by nurse Debbie Rowe, Prince,12, and Paris, 11, and a third, Prince Michael II, nicknamed Blanket,conceived by a surrogate -- remained unclear, experts said.
Scott Altman, a law professor at the University of SouthernCalifornia, said if Rowe sought custody of her two children withJackson any resulting trial could hinge on expert testimony.
"If this gets to trial, a great deal is going to turn on expertpsychological testimony about the children's relationship with thevarious caretakers, the judge's impression of that and potentially thechildren's own preferences," Altman said.
Jackson's death launched a worldwide avalanche of tributes thatshowed no sign of abating Friday as foreign leaders, celebrities andfans paid tribute to the icon whose success was overshadowed by apedophilia court case and his eccentric private life.
Pop diva Madonna was among the celebrities who paid tribute. "Ican't stop crying over the sad news," the singer said in a statement."The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live onforever!"
Fans staged gatherings across the world. At Jackson's star on theHollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, fans left flowers and litcandles.
"He was my second God -- I can't imagine the world without him,"said Anthony Robinson, 35, one of hundreds of fans gathered inHollywood to pay tribute.
Jackson's concerts in London were to be his first shows in more than a decade.
While Jackson ruled the charts and dazzled audiences with dancemoves like the "moonwalk" in the 1980s, his once-stellar career wasovershadowed by his startling physical transformation and multipleallegations of child abuse.
He lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal oncharges of child molestation and plotting to kidnap his young accuser.
Despite his acquittal, the trial was a body blow from which the popmusic superstar, who named his ranch after Peter Pan's "Neverland" andfurnished it with Disney-inspired rides, struggled to recover.
Born on August 29, 1958, Jackson made his show business debut withfour of his elder brothers in the Jackson Five pop group, and went onto lead the stage clan with a piping soprano and dazzling dance moves.
In 1979, Quincy Jones produced Jackson's first solo album for Epic,"Off the Wall," a huge disco-oriented success that sold 10 millioncopies.
They teamed up again in 1982 for "Thriller," which became the top-selling album of all time, with sales exceeding 41 million.
"I'm absolutely devastated at this news," Jones said after beinginformed of Jackson's death. "I just don't have the words. Divinitybrought our souls together and allowed us to do what we could dothrough the '80s." |
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