Homicide not ruled out in Jackson probe

LOS ANGELOS: “King of Pop” Michael Jackson’s family yesterday prepared to hold a memorial service in his hometown of Gary, Indiana, as investigators looking into the cause of the megastar’s death did not rule out homicide.

Coroners called for any records held by Jackson’s many doctors to be presented, “including radiology and psychiatric records,” the Los Angeles Times reported, as part of an ongoing investigation into the star’s death at age 50 on June 25.

Los Angeles police chief Bill Bratton said his department was looking into Jackson’s history of prescription drug use, as well as the doctors that he had seen over the years.

“Are we dealing with homicide? Are we dealing with an accidental overdose? What are we dealing with? So as we are standing here speaking, I can tell you, I don’t have that information,” Bratton told CNN.

Meanwhile the late pop superstar’s 79-year-old father, Joe Jackson, told ABC News that he was suspicious of the circumstances surrounding his son’s death.

“I do believe it was foul play,” he said. “I do believe that. Yes.”

The Jackson family patriarch said he “just couldn’t believe what was happening” when his son was rushed into hospital late last month with an apparent cardiac arrest.

The second autopsy demanded by the family following the death of their most famous member was still yet to reveal any more answers, Joe Jackson said.

Investigators have apparently zeroed in on a powerful sedative — Diprivan — discovered at Jackson’s rented mansion after his death.

The drug is commonly used to induce unconsciousness in hospital patients ahead of major surgery and experts say it should only be administered by a trained anesthesiologist.

Jackson’s long-time dermatologist Arnold Klein earlier told CNN that he had been aware the singer had used the drug in the past.

“I knew at one point he was using Diprivan when he was on tour in Germany,” he said. “He was using it with an anesthesiologist to go to sleep at night and I told him he was absolutely insane.”

Klein, who said he treated Jackson three days before

his mysterious death, denied providing Jackson with

the drugs.

Reports have also emerged of police records that include allegations Jackson used Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication, and at one time took as many 30 pills each night.

In the ABC interview Joe Jackson also made it clear what he thought was best for Michael’s children Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II — also known as Blanket — seven.

“Their grandmother —Katherine — and I, “should raise them, he told ABC. “Yes, there’s no one else to do what we can do for them.