Michael Jackson's father raises spectre of foul play

THE father of Michael Jackson has said he suspects "foul play" was behind the death of his son. Joe Jackson, the patriarch of the musical family, said he had "suspicions" about the suddenness of the singer's demise.

Mr Jackson said a funeral date for the star would not be set until the results of a private post-mortem examination were known, but insisted it would not be closed to the public.

While the 50-year-old was initially thought to have died of a heart attack in Los Angeles last Thursday, there is growing speculation that abuse of prescription pain-killers and other drugs contributed to his death.

Meanwhile, fans who bought tickets for Jackson's string of scheduled concerts in London will receive full refunds. AEG Live, which was promoting the 50 This Is It gigs at the O2 Arena. Fans will also have the option of being sent their tickets as souvenirs in part lieu of the full refund. Announcing the refunds, Randy Phillips, president of AEG Live, said: "Since he loved his fans in life, it is incumbent upon us to treat them with the same reverence and respect after his death." Refunds will include all ticket service charges, he said.

Elsewhere, there were reports last night that up to a dozen Jackson fans around the world may have taken their own lives in response to his death. Gary Taylor, who runs an online Jackson fan club, claimed that up to 12 distraught devotees had taken their own lives.

Jesse Jackson, a friend of the singer, has recorded a YouTube film on the site urging fans not to "self-destruct". He said: "This is a time when hearts are heavy. There is great pain, but great cause to celebrate Michael's life.

But the main focus yesterday was on Joe Jackson, 80, who told TV reporters: , "Michael was dead before he left the house. I'm suspecting foul play somewhere. He was waving to everybody and telling them he loves them and all the fans at the gate. A few minutes after Michael was out there, he was dead." The family are said to be "concerned" about the role of Conrad Murray, the singer's doctor, whose lawyer yesterday denied reports that he prescribed or injected Jackson with painkillers prior to his death.

Edward Chernoff said any drugs Dr Murray gave Jackson were prescribed in response to a specific complaint from the singer. He said: "Dr Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson. Not ever. Not that day … Not Oxycontin (either]."

A second post-mortem examination at the behest of the family was believed to have been carried out yesterday. It was reported that although his body has been released to the family, his brain has been retained for medical examination as part of the investigation, with the aim of carrying out further tests while police wait for the results of toxicological analysis.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office issued a firm denial of reports that the initial examination showed Jackson's body contained only partially dissolved pills, and that the singer was bald and weighed just eight stones and one ounce.

While the police continue their investigation, conflicting reports about the singer's final hour emerged. According to the doctor's lawyer, Dr Murray found Jackson ill in bed where he administered CPR. He had been criticised for not moving him on to a solid surface as experts recommend, but his lawyer said that as Jackson was so frail, Dr Murray "administered with his hand behind his back to provide support". The lawyer added: "He's a doctor. He knows how to administer CPR."

Yet other reports have said the singer collapsed in the living room, where attempts to revive him where witnessed by his eldest son, Prince, 12, who initially thought his father was clowning around. These details were revealed by Stacy Brown, author of a biography of the Jackson family, who said he had spoken extensively to relatives about the singer's final moments.

Mr Brown said the singer was in the living room of his rented mansion with his son, the doctor, his friend and manager Frank DiLeo and a security guard called Tippy when he had the heart attack shortly after he had been given a shot of Demerol. Mr Brown said: "The horror of it all is that Prince thought his dad was just being his dad and clowning, but it was real, and he watched as they worked on him. Prince was stunned – in a trance – just watching, not really processing what was really happening."

He said: "The guard and the doctor picked (Jackson] up and put him on the bed from the living room, and that's when they started CPR. The doctor said he was 'very pale and cold to the touch'."

According to the author, Tippy then rang the singer's father in Las Vegas to tell him something was wrong, at which point Joe screamed at them to call for medical assistance.

The author then said: "A huge commotion ensued about why 911 wasn't being called and why he wasn't getting help." Tippy eventually called 911, with the call being logged at 12:21pm.

Although Jackson was rushed to UCLA Medical Centre, where doctors shocked his heart and inserted a breathing tube, he was declared dead at 2:26pm.

'His life will shine on in world history'

MOURNING Michael Jackson fans lauded his talent, moonwalked in his honour, sang his lyrics and awaited word on the possibility of a global memorial to the King of Pop yesterday.

In Paris, fans and Jackson lookalikes held what they claimed was the world's biggest moonwalk, organised via Facebook.

Gliding backwards beneath the Eiffel Tower, they sang, cheered and chanted in homage to the singer.

"Michael forever in our hearts," read one banner.

The American singer Usher, at designer Lanvin's Paris menswear show, called Jackson an inspiration. He said: "If I did not know Michael Jackson, I would not be who I am today."

Across China, thousands of fans held vigils for Jackson in several cities. In Malaysia, hundreds gathered at a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall on Sunday to sing along to Jackson songs and sign a banner with condolences while Jackson impersonators performed.

Another 200 fans held a candlelight vigil in a Tokyo park.

Beijing Television planned a special Jackson broadcast. One member of the Jackson fan club in China's central Sichuan province urged fans to organise an event on 29 August, Jackson's birthday, while another posted details of a tentative Jackson vigil on Friday in Inner Mongolia.

In Japan, a scholar reflected on Jackson's historic significance. "Which was the bigger step for mankind – Apollo 11 or Michael's moonwalk?" asked Yoshiaki Sato, who studies American culture.

"His death, like Presley's, may not have been fitting of a hero. But his life will shine on in world history," he said.

While in Turkey, the Association for Dialogue between Religions, Languages and Civilisations held Islamic prayers and handed out traditional sweets for Jackson in Mercimekli, a south-eastern village.