Michael Jackson's Family Ready to Call for Second Autopsy

The family of Michael Jackson may order their own independent autopsy in order to answer many of the mysteries surrounding his death, it emerged today.

The Rev Jesse Jackson, a close friend of the family, said the Jackson clan had several concerns, especially allegations linked to his prescription drug use and the role of Dr Conrad Murray in the last hours of Jackson's life. Murray appears to have been present when Jackson, 50, collapsed, but did not sign the death certificate, as is standard practice.

Jesse Jackson said the family would probably hold another autopsy. He said: "When did the doctor come? What did he do? Did he inject him? If so, with what? Was he on the scene twice? Did he use the Demerol? It's a very powerful drug. Was he injected once? Was he injected twice?"

Murray is now at the center of the police investigation. According to AEG Live, the company that was preparing to stage 50 Jackson gigs at the O2 venue in London, the cardiologist was summoned to Los Angeles at Jackson's request, to help him prepare for the grueling schedule. Randy Phillips, the chief executive of AEG Live, said that a significant amount of money was due to be advanced to Murray by the company and the doctor was to accompany Jackson to Britain.

Los Angeles Police Department insisted the doctor has been co-operative and had spoken to officers immediately after Jackson's death. However, Murray has not been seen in public since the death and police have impounded a car found at Jackson's home that belonged to Murray's sister. Police are expected to interview Murray again this weekend, but have said that is not unusual. They do not suspect foul play.

Since he died, Jackson's use of prescription drugs has emerged as the main focus of those seeking to understand why he suffered a cardiac arrest.

News reports have described a massive regimen of powerful painkillers, including daily injections of Demerol and OxyContin, both of which are opiates. Jackson was injected with Demerol an hour before he collapsed. He was believed to have several personal physicians who helped him with his massive medical needs. But Murray is thought to have been living at Jackson's home. Asked if the Jackson family were concerned about Murray's role, Jesse Jackson said: "They have good reason to be ... he left the scene."

In the official three-hour autopsy on Friday, the Los Angeles county coroner's office said determination of the cause of the pop star's death would be deferred because the medical examiner had ordered additional toxicology, neuropathology and pulmonary tests. The results will take between four and six weeks.

The death of Jackson has dominated global news media. What will happen to his estate and his children has yet to be sorted out and is likely to dominate headlines for weeks to come. Particular attention is also focused on the arrangements for Jackson's funeral, which could rival the public outpourings of grief that marked the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.