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Jackson family to fight for custody of children
2009-06-29
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The family of Michael Jackson has vowed to fight for custody of the superstar's children and voiced new concerns over the circumstances of his death. The doctor who cared for the singer has given new details about the King of Pop's final moments, media reports said. He told investigators that Jackson was unconscious but still had a faint pulse when he reached him before his death on Thursday. The doctor, Conrad Murray, said he tried to resuscitate Jackson and ordered a member of the singer?s staff to call emergency services, The New York Times reported, citing the doctor's lawyer. Murray, who was interviewed by Los Angeles police, also told investigators that, contrary to reports, he did not give Jackson powerful painkillers Demerol or OxyContin in the hours before his death, according to the paper. The Jackson family on Sunday said they had appointed attorney Londell McMillan to be the sole individual authorized to speak on their behalf. McMillan told CNN the family wants custody of Jackson's three children and said they had not yet been granted access to his will. He also said the Jacksons were "closely watching" the official investigation into the star's death. They have hired a private pathologist to carry out a second autopsy. Asked about the three children -- born to two mothers -- McMillan said their grandmother Katherine would seek custody, raising the possibility of a bitter legal battle. "She will seek custody of the children. She loves them dearly," McMillan told CNN. Katherine Jackson has been looking after the children since the sudden death of their superstar father on Thursday at the age of 50. "They're in a loving environment. She's a great grandma. I couldn't think of anyone better for these children than a grandma like Miss Katherine Jackson and the loving support of family of the Jacksons." McMillan also revealed that family was uncertain if a will existed. If Jackson did not leave a will, his assets would go to his next of kin under California law, McMillan said. "If there's no will then under the state of California it goes to the next of kin, that's an adult administering and overseeing for the best interests of the children," he said. Family patriarch Joe Jackson said he remained concerned about details of his son's death. The family has spoken of the "unanswered questions" concerning Murray's role in the final hours of Jackson's life. Lawyers for Murray insist he has been cleared of wrongdoing. "I have a lot of concerns. I can't get into that, but I don't like what happened," Jackson, 79, said on the sidelines of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards in Los Angeles. Police conducted a second interview with Murray on Saturday but cleared him of any criminal wrongdoing, the physician's lawyers said. The doctor has faced intense speculation amid reports he injected Jackson with the potent prescription painkiller Demerol just before he died. However a lawyer for Murray said reports of an injection were "absolutely false." "There was no Demerol. No OxyContin," Edward Chernoff, an attorney for Murray was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times, adding that Murray had discovered Jackson unconscious in the bedroom of his home. "(Murray) was the one who suggested the autopsy to the family while they were still in the hospital. He didn't understand why Michael Jackson had died," Chernoff was quoted as saying. Jackson's family have yet to finalize funeral plans and were due to meet activist Reverend Al Sharpton Monday to discuss plans for a tribute. Sharpton was cited in reports as saying Jackson's family was considering a series of simultaneous memorials around the world to reflect the huge appeal of the star who sold more than 750 million albums during a four-decade career. "Reverend Sharpton will discuss with the family ideas that people from around the world have sent him about how they would like to memorialize Michael Jackson," a spokeswoman for Sharpton said. However an unofficial memorial took place at Los Angeles's famous Shrine Auditorium, where the cream of the African-American music, acting and sporting worlds gathered for the BET Awards. A galaxy of stars paid tribute to Jackson as they walked the red carpet, hailing his role as a star who had helped break racial barriers. Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy Combs" told CNN: "He's one of the reasons why Barack Obama's president... He started the change in the world about how African-Americans are perceived." "We miss him and we love him and we just feel devastated," said soul singer Alicia Keys, urging people to remember Jackson in a "respectful, positive way." Fans around the world grieved for "King of Pop" Michael Jackson who died of a heart attack on Thursday. A look back at the life of one of the most influential figures in pop history.
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