Jackson's ex-wife backs off in custody fight over children

Published on Friday 3 July 2009 22:20

MICHAEL Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, appeared to be back-pedalling yesterday as the prospect of a custody battle for the couple's two children threatened to eclipse the singer's showcase funeral.

As details for Tuesday's public farewell were unveiled in Los Angeles, Ms Rowe's lawyer, Eric George, claimed that when his client told a TV reporter she was "stepping up" to launch a lawsuit for custody of son Prince Michael Joseph, 12, and daughter Paris Michael, 11, she really meant she was undecided.

"The truth is Debbie has not reached a final decision," Mr George said several hours after Ms Rowe said she was seeking a restraining order against Jackson's father, Joe, to keep him away from her children.

"I've no reason to doubt what was reported from that conversation was accurate. But it would be a distortion of the truth to allow that single snapshot of a single conversation to stand as the truth of her position."

The reversal prompted speculation that Ms Rowe's advisers had told her such bullish pronouncements could harm her position in any court proceedings. She also said she was concerned about her children being with Joe Jackson, whom the singer had accused of beating him.

A previous custody battle was settled out of court in 2006, a year after Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges. Ms Rowe, who shied away from the limelight after the couple divorced, won visitation rights, but has said she has no contact with the children.

This week, a Los Angeles judge granted Jackson's mother, Katherine, temporary custody of her son's three children, including Prince Michael II, who was born to a surrogate mother in 2002. A full custody hearing is scheduled for 13 July.

Drugs continue to be the focus of the inquiry into Jackson's death from heart failure at his rented mansion in Los Angeles.

It was reported last night a sedative, Diprivan, was found in the home. The drug is used in operating theatres to induce unconsciousness.

Jerry Brown, California's attorney general, announced that the state's bureau of narcotic enforcement would launch its own investigation into prescriptions written by Jackson's team of doctors, parallel to separate inquiries by the LA Police Department and US Drug Enforcement Administration.

The results of toxicology tests taken at Jackson's post-mortem examination are unlikely to be available for several weeks.

It also emerged last night that British fans of Jackson will be unable to obtain tickets to attend next week's memorial service. Only US residents will be able to get tickets in the ballot for the event at LA's Stables Centre.

However, a video feed of the event will be made available to television stations worldwide.

CRUSH FEARS OVER MEMORIAL

LOS Angeles officials were last night trying to establish how to accommodate Tuesday's public memorial service for Michael Jackson at a venue that can hold no more than 20,000 people.

The service at the Staples Centre is expected to draw many tens of thousands of spectators wanting to pay their respects to the singer.

Anticipating a crowd-control problem with tickets being free, city official Dennis Zine said:

"There is not sufficient room … Many people are on holiday this weekend (for Independence Day], so it's the worst possible time to work something out."

Jackson's brother Jermaine said there would be a private ceremony before the public memorial.