'Michael Jackson feared he would be killed for music catalogue'

Michael Jackson spent the last months of his life frightened, convinced that he would be killed by people wanting to get access to his valuable music catalogue, according to his sister, LaToya Jackson.

She makes the claims in her new book, "Starting Over," which also chronicles her own troubles, including an abusive marriage to her late ex-manager/husband, Jack Gordon.

Ms Jackson says that she and her brother went through similar experiences of being controlled and manipulated by shadowy figures that cut them off from their family.

"The difference is, I was eventually able to get away and start over; Michael can't start over," she said.

Saturday will mark the two-year anniversary of the King of Pop's death at the age of 50.

Dr Conrad Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter, accused of giving him an overdose of the anaesthetic propofol and other sedatives. He has pleaded not guilty; the trial is set for September.

However, Jackson's sister called Murray "the fall guy." She said there were other people who needed to be investigated and described Jackson's death as part of a wide conspiracy.

Jackson was the co-owner of the lucrative Sony/ATV catalogue, the copyright holder of the Beatles' and other artists' songs, and his older sister contends he was murdered for control of it.

"This is definitely something that was premeditated, that they had planned to do, and they planned to take my brother out, and my brother knew it, and that's why my brother told me repeatedly, repeatedly and repeatedly, that this was going to happen to him," she said in an interview.

"He explained to me, 'It's because of my catalogue."'

She had harsh words for John Branca, the co-executor of Jackson's estate, accusing him of being more interested in his own interests than those of the beneficiaries of the estate - Jackson's mother, his three children and charitable causes.

"They care about what they can do and what they can get their hands on, and no one in the family has anything to do with the estate," she said. "At this point, blatantly said, John Branca right now is Michael Jackson."

In response to La Toya Jackson's statements, the estate issued this statement: "After numerous hearings and after reviewing evidence contained in countless filings and exhibits, three California courts have decided John Branca and John McClain are the rightful and lawful executors of Michael Jackson's Estate just as Michael specified in his will.

"Mr Branca and Mr McClain have turned the estate around financially for the benefit of Michael's children and mother, protected the intellectual property and music catalogue assets Michael accumulated during his lifetime as well as carried out their mandate to shelter and preserve funds for his children until they reach certain ages as adults. Their performance as the executors of Michael's estate is a matter of extensive public record and speaks for itself."

Jackson's three children - Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket - are being cared for by Jackson's mother, Katherine.

Unlike when they were in their father's care, they no longer shield their faces with masks and have entered private school: "They are adjusting very well," Jackson said.