Showing posts with label Jackson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jackson. Show all posts

Friday, 26 July 2013

Katherine Jackson Testifies at Michael Jackson Trial: I Didn't Know He Was Abusing Pills

Katherine Jackson Pool Photographer/Getty Images

Katherine Jackson resumed her testimony in court today in the wrongful death trial of her late son, Michael Jackson.

The Jackson matriarch admitted that she was surprised to learn that her son was having financial issues before his 2009 death.

"I heard that from different people," she said in front of a jury. "I heard for years that Michael Jackson was broke but he wasn't."

Katherine also told the courtroom that she didn't believe that Michael was responsible for his own death. But when AEG lead counsel Marvin Putnam asked if she had been in attendance for Conrad Murray's manslaughter trial and whether she assisted the District Attorney in his prosecution, she said she "didn't remember."

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She added that Michael only gave Dr. Murray money out of pity and that he was hired by AEG and not her son.

"[Michael] felt bad for Dr. Murray because he didn't have no money," she said.

The 83-year-old explained that she never saw her son under the influence of drugs and never saw him "loopy or out of it."

Katherine explained that her other children had expressed concern that Michael may have had a problem with prescription drugs, but he ultimately denied it when she confronted him.

She said that his denial didn't surprise her because what son would want to tell their mother about their possible drug abuse.

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Katherine Jackson, Michael Jackson HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images

"I knew he was taking them [pain pills] but I didn't know he was abusing them," she said.

Towards the end of her testimony, she revealed that she took part in an intervention at the Neverland Ranch in 2002.

She said that Michael was upset "because when we got there, there was nothing wrong with him."

She later said that Michael was angry to the point of yelling at his family members and that she was embarrassed to be present for the incident.

Katherine also then said she did not remember a doctor talking to her about Michael getting a Narcon implant to curb his drug use. Right after Katherine told the court that to her knowledge Michael was not addicted to painkillers, attorneys for AEG played her interview with Oprah in 2010 where she made contradictory statements and admitted that Michael was addicted to drugs. 

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She also later admitted that besides Michael's monthly checks, Katherine received $10,000 a month from daughter Janet. She also said she currently does not own a computer and does not know how to send an email.

She concluded her testimony by saying that AEG did nothing to commemorate Michael after his death. She said they never sent her flowers or a card. But then she admitted they did put on a big event celebration on the Staples Center.

The judge dismissed her in the afternoon after almost two full days on the stand. 

PHOTOS: Michael Jackson's life through pics


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Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Jackson was set to make $1bn

16 July 2013 Last updated at 10:20 GMT Michael Jackson Jackson had considered a Las Vegas show and 37-month tour before his death in June 2009 Michael Jackson could have made more than $1.1bn (£726.9m) on his This Is It comeback tour, a financial expert has told a court at the singer's wrongful death trial in the US.

Accountant Arthur Erk said he used conservative estimates to determine Jackson's earning potential.

But his calculations did not include the singer's $400m (£264.6m) debt.

Katherine Jackson, who is suing music promoters AEG Live for $40bn (£26bn), was heard for the first time in court.

In a video statement, the singer's mother said she was surprised when Jackson announced the This Is It concerts in London.

"He didn't want to be doing the moonwalk on stage when he's over 50," she said in a short clip of her out of court testimony.

But Mr Erk, who has worked with musicians including Britney Spears and rock band Kiss, said Jackson had considered a Las Vegas show based on his music and archive footage.

"Demand was so wild that he probably could have charged more for tickets and still sold out," Erk told the court.

Jackson had signed on for 50 shows in London before he died in June 2009, but contracts for the shows indicated a longer 37-month tour was a possibility.

The singer's family are in the process of presenting figures to jurors to calculate potential damages, if the jury should find the company liable for the singer's death.

The defence lawyer for AEG Live, which denies any wrongdoing, questioned the figures, claiming they did not account for the singer's lavish spending habits or his $400m (£264.6m) debt.

The trial, currently in its 12th week, is expected to last until the end of July.


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