Michael Jackson spent the last months of his life frightened and on edge, convinced he would be killed by people wanting access to his valuable music catalogue, according to his sister, La Toya Jackson.
Jackson 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.
Jackson says 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,” she said.
Saturday will mark the two-year anniversary of the King of Pop’s death at age 50. Conrad Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter, giving him an overdose of the anaesthetic propofol and other sedatives. He has pleaded not guilty; the trial is set for September.
But Jackson’s sister called Murray “the fall guy”. She said other people 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… and my brother knew it,” she said in an interview this week.
Jackson 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.
In response to 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.” – Sapa-AP