Michael Jackson’s brain kept by coroners for drug tests while location of body remains a mystery

Michael Jackson’s brain is still being kept by doctors and tested for drugs that may have contributed to his death.

Pathologists are checking for neurochemical traces of painkillers and other drugs before returning the brain – or at least part of it – to the singer’s family for burial. However, no date has been given for giving it back, adding to the confusion about when and where Jackson will be buried, and while the tests are ongoing his cause of death remains officially ‘deferred’.

There is also a chance the Los Angeles coroner will hold on to evidential samples of brain tissue.

Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner, said: ‘As soon as we are done with the brain, we will return it. The last I heard, they are not burying the body yet.’

There is also no word on the current location of the superstar’s body, wheeled out without its brain at the Staples Center in LA for Tuesday’s public memorial in a £15,000 gold-plated casket.

Officials at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where the family held private services, have refused to comment on whether it is being stored there and the singer’s final resting place still remains a mystery a fortnight after he died at his rented home in LA. Three of Jackson’s brothers, Jermaine, Jackie and Tito, are reportedly negotiating for him to be laid to rest at his former Neverland ranch.

Californian officials said creating a cemetery at the rural estate near Santa Barbara could take weeks. Dr Arnold Klein said: ‘To the best of my knowledge I am not the father. But if push comes to shove I cannot say anything about it.’ Dr Klein said Jackson considered his face ‘a work of art’ and denied the singer wanted to change his skin colour.

He added: ‘He was developing severe speckling and you can’t look like a leopard. You have to even your skin tone.’ It came as the producers of London’s Thriller – Live musical announced plans for a worldwide tour. The West End show will begin a 12-month tour in Munich on 21 July and dates have been confirmed in most other European countries and the US.

By PAUL THOMPSON – www.dailymail.co.uk

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Emotional farewell to King of Pop

Michael Jackson’s family and fans have said farewell to the pop superstar at an emotional memorial service. Jackson’s daughter Paris, 11, fought back tears to describe him as “the best father you could ever imagine”. The singer’s coffin was placed in front of the stage during the event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after an earlier private funeral. Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey paid tribute before the family joined a sombre finale on stage. Jackson’s siblings, children and parents took part in a chorus of We Are The World and Heal the World. His family, with the brothers each wearing a single jewelled glove in Jackson’s honour, then took to the podium.

Michael Jackson’s brothers wore his trademark single gloves comforted by aunts and uncles, Paris stepped up the microphone. “I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine,” she said. ”And I just wanted to say I love him so much.” Marlon Jackson spoke of the troubles his brother faced. “We will never, never, understand what he endured,” he said.

“Not being able to walk across the street without a crowd gathered around, being judged, being ridiculed. How much pain can one take? ”Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone.”

‘Nothing strange’
Jackson’s brother Jermaine earlier took to the stage to perform the song Smile. It was said to be the King of Pop’s favourite song, featuring the lyric: “Smile though your hearts are aching.” At the start of the service, Jackson’s brothers carried the golden flower-draped coffin into the arena to the strains of a choir singing “Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re going to see the King” from the song Soon And Very Soon.
Mariah Carey was among the artists paying tribute, performing I’ll Be There and ending with the words: “We miss you.”
Stevie Wonder said: “This is a moment I wished I didn’t live to see come. Michael I love you.” Civil rights leader the Reverend Al Sharpton gave a fiery speech, telling Jackson’s children: “There weren’t nothing strange about your daddy. ”It was strange what your daddy had to deal with but he dealt with it.”

Michael was a personal love of mine, a treasured part of my world, part of the fabric of my life in a way that I can’t seem to find words to express
Diana Ross

In quotes: Jackson memorial
Jackson memorial gives web boost
Motown boss Berry Gordy, who signed the Jackson Five, ended his tribute with the words: “Michael, thank you for the joy, thank you for the love. you will live in my heart forever.” Actress Brooke Shields, who first met Jackson when she was 13, broke down in tears as she took to the stage. Describing Jackson as “pure”, she said: “He was often referred to as the King but the Michael that I knew was always the little prince. Michael saw everything with his heart.”

The 17,500 people in the arena cheered as clips of Jackson’s life and music were played on big screens. Messages were read from absent guests including former South African President Nelson Mandela, poet Maya Angelou and singer Diana Ross.

Images of Jackson flashed on screens as Stevie Wonder performed
The message from Ross was read by Smokey Robinson. “I’m trying to find closure,” it said. ”I want you to know that even though I am not there at the Staples Center I am there in my heart. ”Michael was a personal love of mine, a treasured part of my world, part of the fabric of my life in a way that I can’t seem to find words to express. ”Michael wanted me to be there for his children and I will be there if they ever need me. I hope today brings closure for all those who loved him.” Other people taking part include Usher and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Shaheen Jafargholi, who has played the young Michael Jackson in the musical Thriller – Live.
The stage was adorned with the star’s image, alongside a mural carrying the words: “In Loving Memory. Michael Jackson King of Pop – 1958-2009.”

‘Everybody cried’
Speaking after the event, one fan, Marianne Green, told the BBC the memorial was “heart wrenching”. ”It was really beautiful. A lot of people got up and said wonderful things,” she said. Pamela Green added: “We laughed at some jokes, but everybody cried. I’ve never seen anything like that, ever.” Millions of fans around the world watched on TV. Roads were closed off and concrete barriers erected outside the Staples Center, where Jackson had been rehearsing a comeback show before his sudden death aged 50 on 25 June. More than 1.6 million fans applied to attend the memorial event, with 8,750 people chosen at random to receive a pair of tickets. Family members earlier attended a short funeral service at the Forest Lawn cemetery.

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Will dignity rule at Michael Jackson farewell?

LOS ANGELES – A solemn, reverential farewell to Michael Jackson that says more with less – or an unseemly four-ring circus, four being the operative number, that foists the surviving members of the Jackson 5 onto a global television audience for all the wrong reasons.

At tomorrow morning’s memorial service to the King of Pop, there will be music, and rightfully so. An Oscars-like guest list of celebrities, including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Elizabeth Taylor, is also assured, together with some 8,750 fans selected from 1.6 million entrants in an online lottery.

But Jackson’s grief-stricken mom Katherine, 79, is determined the occasion will not become an opportunistic spectacle, said sources close to promoter AEG. An immensely tall order, given the worst instincts of those in the Jackson entourage who see it all as one enormous marketing opportunity. Katherine Jackson was named temporary administrator of her son’s affairs last week before Jackson’s will became known.

The will puts his estate, which in an attachment is valued at more than $500 million (U.S.), into a family trust that benefits his three children, his mother and charities. Katherine Jackson has also been named temporary guardian of Prince Michael Jackson Jr., 12, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11, and Prince Michael Joseph Jackson II, 7.

In other developments yesterday, Los Angeles police officials renewed a warning for ticketless Jackson fans to stay away from the Staples Center, saying as many as 1,400 officers will enforce a no-go zone around the arena.

Some Jackson fans are disappointed in what they regard a heavy-handed police approach to the ceremony.

“People around the world are mourning Michael Jackson’s death with music and dance, not violence,” Shirley Erhart said in an email to theStar. “The big monitors at Staples should be turned on to allow fans to watch peacefully without getting arrested.”

Yesterday evening, fans around the world started posting Twitter messages about receiving tickets.

“OMG OMG OMG OMG i got tickets to the Michael Jackson memorial service!!!” tweeted Deka Daye from San Francisco. Other messages came from Scotland and Iran.

Ambreen Ladha, a 23-year-old social worker in Toronto, said she was among the lucky few who won. However, like many others, she immediately put the tickets up for sale on Craigslist – for $250 each.

“It’s kind of short notice,” she told the Star‘s Iain Marlow. “I wonder if other people who got them are actually going to go. I guess people are just trying to get some money out of this.” To participate in the lottery, fans registered online in the random drawing of 8,750 names. Each person selected receives two tickets. The odds of getting a ticket were about 1 in 183.

from thestar.com MITCH POTTER
WASHINGTON BUREAU
With files from Reuters and AP

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