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Jackson family orders fresh autopsy

LOS ANGELES, Jun 28 – The family of Michael Jackson ordered a second autopsy of the tragic pop icon Saturday as associates told of mounting anger over "unanswered questions" surrounding the superstar’s death.

Jackson’s family members were huddled at their compound in Los Angeles, where they have gathered since the most famous member of their clan died suddenly on Thursday at age 50 after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest.

The Los Angeles Coroner’s office said Friday a preliminary autopsy on Jackson was inconclusive and a final cause of death would not be known until exhaustive toxicology tests are completed in "six to eight weeks."

Jackson’s body was released to his family late Friday and kept at an undisclosed location before undergoing a second autopsy, officials and local media reports said.

Late Saturday the Los Angeles Times reported the autopsy had been completed but there was no word on the findings.

The new examination came as the first signs of disquiet emerged from the Jackson camp.
"We don’t like what’s going on," family patriarch Joe Jackson told People magazine. The Jacksons later issued a statement to fans describing the death as "one of the darkest moments of our lives."

Veteran US politician and activist Reverend Jesse Jackson — who is not related to the family — told ABC television’s Good Morning America he had spent Friday counseling the family.

And he revealed that family members were angered by lingering questions surrounding Jackson’s death, and were focusing their attention on the role of the singer’s doctor identified as Conrad Murray.

The doctor is reported to have injected Jackson with the painkiller Demerol shortly before his death.

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Reports said Los Angeles police were due to interview Murray on Saturday in the presence of a lawyer but detectives have said they do not view the physician as a criminal suspect.

A lawyer representing Murray, Matt Alford, said he had no knowledge of any treatments given to Jackson by the physician.

"It’s a human tragedy and he’s (Murray’s) upset about the death of Mr Jackson," Alford told CNN. "He’s not a suspect in the death of Mr Jackson."

However Jesse Jackson said the family had questions of their own.

"They (the family) are suspicious of this doctor and they have real reason to be because any other doctor would say ‘Here’s what happened in the last hour of his life and I was there. I gave him some medicine.’

"He owes it to the family and to the public to say, ‘These were the last hours of Michael’s life and here’s what happened.’ That’s a reasonable expectation."

Friends and associates of Jackson took to the airwaves to voice anger over the role of advisers and physicians that surrounded the star.

New age guru and Jackson confidante Deepak Chopra — a qualified cardiologist — told CNN bluntly: "I think drugs killed him."

Anger was also beginning to be seen amongst fans who have gathered around the globe in their thousands to pay tribute to Jackson in what have been largely joyous celebrations of his life.

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On the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, fans queued again on Saturday for the right to file past Jackson’s star set in the sidewalk.

Deborah Canton, 46, sobbed inconsolably as she slammed the "evil people" who she accused of driving Jackson to his death.

"The guy would never hurt a fly but all of these evil people would do everything to destroy him just to get his money," she said. "I don’t think he wanted to live anymore."

In New York large crowds formed outside the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, where Jackson launched his career in 1969.

Meanwhile revelers at Britain’s Glastonbury music festival sported T-shirts with slogans like "Michael Jackson RIP" and "I was at Glasto when Jacko died", while graffiti paying tribute to "The King of Pop" adorned tents.

Jackson’s death has sent fans scrambling to stock up on his music, and British chart officials said a compilation album was likely to go to the top of the charts on Sunday.

While Jackson ruled the charts and dazzled audiences with dance moves like the "moonwalk" in the 1980s, his once-stellar career was overshadowed by his startling physical transformation and multiple allegations of child abuse.

He lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges of child molestation and plotting to kidnap his young accuser.

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