Michael Jackson's Family 'ask for Second Autopsy'

A second postmortem on Michael Jackson was believed to be taking place after the singer's family requested an independent examination in an attempt to answer many of the questions surrounding his death.

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

Jesse Jackson said the family had a series of questions that they wanted answered: "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?"

Brian Elias, lieutenant at Los Angeles county department of coroner, said: "My understanding is that they [the family] have requested a second autopsy. But we have no way of confirming that. The body is in a mortuary and if they want to proceed with a separate autopsy, it is up to them."

Last night Jackson's manager, Frank DiLeo, described breaking the news of their father's death to Jackson's three children, Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael, seven, known as "Blanket". "Michael's mother Katherine was with them. They were waiting there together for news. I think she feared the worst, but the children had no idea their whole world had ended."

DiLeo added: "Whatever anyone thought of Michael, he was loved by those children, truly loved. They were - and are - in pieces."

The children are being looked after by their grandmother in the home in the Los Angeles suburb of Encino that Jackson bought for her. Last night, DiLeo told how the "outpouring of emotion is something I shall live with for the rest of my life". He said: "It was the single most painful moment of my life. I cannot tell

you how difficult it was. Those children just fell to pieces. The emotions poured forth."

Last night, the Rev Al Sharpton, a friend of the singer's, said the Jackson family were considering a series of simultaneous global celebrations to make sure Michael is remembered for his music. He has been asked to meet the family today and said they were "frustrated" at the attention being paid to Jackson's personal problems.

The children's nanny, Grace Rwaramba, who had been in London after being sacked by Jackson two weeks ago after 17 years in his employment, was said to be flying to Los Angeles to be with the children. Clearly distraught, she gave an interview and talked of Jackson's erratic behaviour, nomadic lifestyle, prescription drug abuse and financial worries. Staff, including herself, she claimed, had not been paid for months and she talked of Jackson having his stomach pumped after taking too much medication.

Jackson's family also want to know more about the role of AEG Live, the concert promoter due to stage his 50-date concert series at London's 02 Arena. They want to investigate the role of his advisers and representatives and believe they were put in place by the promoter.

Murray is now at the centre of the police investigation and has engaged a top legal firm. According to AEG Live, the cardiologist was summoned to Los Angeles by Jackson to help him prepare for his gruelling concert schedule. Jackson had been losing weight and missing rehearsals, but the team with him the night before he died insisted he was back on top form.

Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, said 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 said the doctor had spoken to officers immediately after Jackson's death. 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 this is not unusual. They do not suspect foul play.

Since he died, Jackson's alleged use of prescription drugs has emerged as the main focus of inquiry of those who are 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 doctors, and 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 a three-hour autopsy on Friday, the Los Angeles county coroner's office said determination of the cause of the star's death would be deferred because the medical examiner had ordered additional toxicology, neuropathology and pulmonary tests. The results will not be available for four-to-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. Particular attention is focused on Jackson's funeral, which could rival the public outpourings of emotion that marked the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.

US legal experts speculate that the mother of the two eldest children would stand the best chance of winning any custody battle. Iris Finsilver, the lawyer for Jackson's former wife, Debbie Rowe, stated that her client will seek to look after the children.

The Jackson family were reported last night to have described the star's death as "one of the darkest moments of our lives".

The statement, attributed by the US celebrity magazine People to Joe Jackson, the singer's father, reads: "In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter.

"Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon.

"It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.

"We miss Michael endlessly, our pain cannot be described in words. But Michael would not want us to give up now.

"So we want to thank all of his faithful supporters and loyal fans worldwide, you - who Michael loved so much.

"Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you. Continue to spread his message, because that is what he would want you to do.

"Carry on, so his legacy will live forever."

Joe Jackson added that the singer's children were "deeply moved" by the love and support shown to them.