Jackson not murdered - source
2009-07-19 21:08
Los Angeles - Detectives investigating the sudden death of Michael Jackson have found no evidence to suggest he was murdered, though their investigation is far from over, the Los Angeles Times reported on Sunday.
"There's nothing I’ve been told that would suggest a murder charge. It's just so remote and unsupported by the facts”, said an official.
Speculation has been rife that one of the doctors treating Jackson, who died of cardiac arrest on June 25, could be arrested and possibly charged in connection with the prescription painkillers taken by the King of Pop.
Hysteria
"They are not suspects," he said of several of Jackson's doctors, who have been ordered to turn over their files to the authorities.
"They are repositories of medical history... There's been a high level of co-operation".
The official's comments came as investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department, the county coroner's office, the district attorney's office and the Drug Enforcement Agency continue looking into the singer's death.
The source told the newspaper that the investigation is "so far away" from completion and warned that "there's a lot of hysteria out there".
Some of that has been fueled by Jackson's own family members, including his sister La Toya, who has been quoted in the British media calling her brother's death a murder.
Painkillers
"It was a conspiracy to get Michael's money," she said.
The investigation into Jackson's death has focused on his use of prescribed painkillers of a strength usually used for surgical procedures.
But even if his death is ruled a homicide by the coroner, authorities may not pursue charges against the five Jackson doctors who have been questioned because of the difficulty proving intent in such a case, the Times reported.
