Michael Jackson‘s drug addiction was put on full public display during the opening day of his mother’s wrongful death case against concert promoter AEG Live. Details of the King Of Pop’s addiction to the powerful anaesthetic propofol were revealed in his family’s lawyers opening address to the court.
Katherine Jackson is suing AEG, claiming it hired her son’s doctor, Conrad Murray, and was therefore responsible for Jackson’s death after Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
Her lawyer, Brian Panish, says AEG forced Dr Murray to get Michael fit for performance despite his drug problem, ignoring his failing health in order to make more money. He said that MJ had been addicted to drugs since suffering from second and third degree burns while filming a Pepsi commercial in 1984 but despite this, had been a loving and attentive son and father.
AEG denies the claim that they hired Murray and say they were unaware that the legendary singer was addicted to propofol, with attorney Marvin S. Putnam saying, “The truth is, Michael Jackson fooled everyone. He made sure that no-one, nobody, knew his deepest darkest secrets.”
The entertainment giant is likely to call Dr Murray, who is currently serving time in prison, as a witness.
A jury of 12 will decide whether AEG will pay what could amount to billions of dollars in damages to Katherine Jackson and Michael’s 3 children, Prince, Paris and Blanket, in a trial expected to last up to 3 months.
