Jackson family express their 'concern' over star's death

Published on Monday 29 June 2009 09:59

MICHAEL Jackson's father today said he had "a lot of concerns" over events leading up to his son's death.

He spoke out as details of the postmortem carried out on the singer's body started to emerge, showing that Jackson weighed just 8st 1oz and that his stomach contained partially dissolved pills when he died.

The postmortem findings also showed the singer had four injection marks near his heart, apparently from attempts to pump adrenaline into the organ in a bid to restart it.

Speaking on the Black Entertainment Television Awards (BET) red carpet, Michael Jackson's father Joe Jackson said he couldn't go into detail of what his concerns were, but the family's attorney said more would be said after the results of a second postmortem examination.

He added the singer's children were the family's "first priority" and that he and Michael's mother, Katherine, have "authority for our son and his children".

A tearful Janet Jackson made her first public appearance since her brother's death at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles, which was turned into a celebration of the singer's life and music.

She struggled to speak as she thanked people for their support as a succession of singers and actors paid tribute to her brother and celebrated the musical legacy he left behind.

Host Jamie Foxx kicked off the show, moonwalking on stage wearing a Jacksonesque red jacket and white gloves with a Jackson 5 medley pumping through the auditorium.

Jackson's father said: "I think if Michael was here he would enjoy the celebrations.

"He couldn't be here but it's like he is larger than he was before.

"Michael gives his love to everybody and we hope that his record will never be broken."

The King of Pop topped the album chart last night six years after his last number one as British fans constructed make-shift shrines to remember their idol.

HMV said many branches had been emptied of Jackson albums following his death on Thursday.

Distraught fans who had been eagerly anticipating his planned 50 shows at London's O2 Arena travelled from all over the country to gather at various locations in London linked to the star.

Fans pasted posters and lit candles on the windows of HMV in London's Piccadilly Circus.

The attorney representing Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray said he did not administer the drugs that contributed to his death.

Edward Chernoff said: "Dr Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson. Not ever. Not that day. Not OxyContin (either) for that matter."

It follows reports the singer received a shot of Demerol – a powerful painkiller – shortly before his death.

Los Angeles Police confirmed they do not intend to speak to Dr Murray again but said their investigation was "ongoing".

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has written to the family to express his feelings over the singer's death.