There is no end to the controversies surrounding the death of Michael Jackson
By Olusola Olaosebikan
In life, Michael Joseph Jackson, the undisputed king of pop, was a thriller. His death, on 25 June, is threatening–with spectacular success–to make him a bigger one, as the actual cause of his death continues to dominate discussions worlwide.
Though Jackson, who died at the age of 50 in Los Angeles, was speculated to have suffered from cardiac arrest, coroner’s inquest into the cause of his death suggest that he may have died of drug dependence and abuse. This, LaToya, Jackson’s favourite sister, believes was the handiwork of Dr. Arnold Klein, Jackson’s dermatologist, and Dr. Cowrad Murray, his physician. LaToya, who reportedly signed Jackson’s death certificate, alleged that both doctors conspired to murder her brother.
She accused them of cutting him off from his family and friends, and forcing him, against his will, to sign up for the gruelling commitment of 50 concerts at the O2 Arena in London. LaToya reckons that her brother was regarded as a cash cow and fed addictive drugs by handlers, who wanted to control his mood.
According to her, Jackson was surrounded by a rapacious group of people. “Michael was worth more than a billion dollars. When anyone is worth that much, there are always greedy people around them. I said to my family a month ago that he’s never going to make it to London. He was worth more dead than alive,” she said.
Klein has, however, dismissed LaToya’s claims as spurious. The Professor of dermatology and medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles, UCLA, who is being investigated for prescribing dangerous narcotic medication and anesthesia to Jackson, has denied any complicity in the death of the icon. “I didn’t give him this crap they are talking about. I’ve never prescribed oxy contin in my life. How am I going to prescribe Dipivan, a.k.a propotol, which is used for anesthesia when I don’t understand how to use it? He danced in my office. He danced for patients. He was very muscular and happy. I saw nothing at that point in time that would make me worry whatsoever,” he claimed.
As for Jackson’s children, Klein argued that the allegation that he is their biological father is false. “To the best of my knowledge, I am not the father of these children. I can’t answer it any other way. I don’t want to feed any of this insanity going round. These are brilliant children and I want them in no way to be harmed. People should know the depth of Jackson’s love of his children,” he said.
Klein revealed that he administered painkillers on Jackson, after surgeries. Speaking on CNN’s Larry King Live two weeks ago, Klein disclosed that he occasionally gave Jackson Demerol, a powerful painkiller, after surgery, but that he had warned Jackson about using Diprivan, a powerful anesthetic, which Jackson was reported to have used to tackle chronic insomnia.
Klein said he was not surprised to learn that investigators found a number of prescription drugs in Jackson’s rented Beverly Hills apartment at the time of his death. “I know at one point that he was using Diprivan when he was on tour in Germany. He was using it to go to sleep at night. I told him he was absolutely insane. I said ‘you have to quit it. This drug you can’t repeatedly take,” Klein told CNN.
He denied ever seeing track marks on the singer’s arms, but agreed that Jackson, at a point, had an addiction. esults of the coroner’s inquest released after the deceased artist’s memorial seem to agree with Klein’s theory of Jackson’s addiction to drugs. According to the autopsy report, preliminary toxicology results showed that Jackson had lethal levels of the painkillers, Demerol and heroin substitute, methadone, in his body when he died. The test also revealed high level of Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug. This is in addition to lower levels of Propotol and Dilaudia, a narcotic used for post-surgery pain.
Levels of Fentanyl, a post-operation painkiller; Vicodin, prescription painkiller; Valium and Ambien were also detailed in the report, which has been submitted to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. Reports also suggest that Jackson massively abused drugs. For instance, a raid on his Neverland Ranch in 2003 yielded multiple prescription drugs, including Demerol and Versed, Promethazine, a drug with strong sedative effect and Xanax. A syringe, an oxygen tank and intravenous equipment were also found.
The legendary pop star reportedly employed fake identities in procuring prescription medication. He was said to have relied heavily on Diprivan, a strong sedative meant for hospital use only, to help him sleep. Jackson was also rumoured to have been injected with Demerol shortly before he died. But his family members insist he was murdered.
Thus, they commissioned a second autopsy. Coming on the heels of the first autopsy report, the Jackson family’s commissioned inquest incidentally corroborated the first. This made the family distraught. According to Brian Oxman, Jacksons’ lawyer, the findings were consistent with the first report and the star’s body had a number of unique and significant marks and injuries.
“Any autopsy report would note a number of unique and significant marks and injuries on the body of Jackson. Firstly, the four puncture marks on him were from the needle. I’ve seen those marks on his chest. I’ve seen his body so I know they are there. He was incredibly lean. He was taking a lot of prescription drugs. That hasn’t been denied,” Oxman said.
The report equally showed that Jackson had four injection sites near his heart. This suggests that there were attempts to pump adrenaline directly into his heart in a bid to resuscitate it. According to Jackson’s physician, paramedics at the scene of his death administered shorts of epinephrine, an adrenaline, on Jackson as he laid unconscious in his apartment. Bags of drugs were reportedly retrieved from Jackson’s home by detectives as they continued their investigation last week. A team of Drug Enforcement Agency, DEA, officials is also on the case. A few weeks back, William Bratton, a Los Angeles Police Chief, confirmed that investigations had not ruled out homicide. Under California law, murder also covers killings that were not premeditated, which could be classed as manslaughter under the British Legal System.
Before his death, Jackson was scheduled to perform 50 sell-out concerts to over one million people at London’s O2 arena. The concert, which was to commence on 13 July, 2009 and finish on 6 March, 2010, had already sold a record-breaking number of tickets. But it was not to be.
Born on 29 August, 1958, at Gary, Indiana, the United States of America, Jackson is regarded as the greatest entertainer ever. A double inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records. These include the most successful Entertainer of All Time, 13 Grammy Awards, 13 number-one singles, and the sale of over 750 million records.
The seventh child of the Jackson family of nine, he made his debut as a 10-year-old, his solo career, and 11 years after, released his blockbuster hit, Thriller. In 1979, he released Off The Wall, with Bad, Dangerous and History following in 1987, 1991 and 1995 respectively.
With Jackson’s fame came an attendant controversy. In 1993, he was accused of child sexual abuse, and though no charges were brought, his health deteriorated, as he began relying on painkillers to cope with stress. In 1994, he married Lisa Marie Presley, a song-writer, singer and daughter of legendary Elvis Presley. Two years later, he married Debbie Rowe.
Jackson, who claimed to have been physically abused by his father, was in 2005 accused of sexually abusing Gavin Arvizo, 13. He was consequently charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent on Arvizo.
In 2006, however, apparently having spent much battling several allegations, reports of financial setback for Jackson became frequent. These followed the closure of the main house on the Neverland Ranch as a cost-cutting measure. His finances were said to have dipped so much that he began to experience stress. This reportedly led Jackson to resort to drug abuse. A pattern he stuck to until 25 June when he breathed his last.
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