Jackson funeral takes shape as drug probe widens
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Temmuz 04, 2009 00:00
LOS ANGELES - Funeral plans for Michael Jackson were slowly taking shape Thursday, one week after the pop icon's death, as federal drug investigators joined the probe into the superstar's sudden demise.
After several days of swirling speculation over the likely final resting place for the King of Pop, reports citing unidentified sources said a memorial service for Jackson would be held Tuesday at Los Angeles's Staples Center.
Jackson would then be buried at the picturesque Forest Lawn cemetery nestled in the Hollywood Hills above Los Angeles, reports said.
A spokesperson for the Jackson family would not comment on the reports early Thursday. On Wednesday, the Jacksons had issued a statement ruling out the possibility of a poignant final farewell at the singer's Neverland Ranch.
"Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland," it said.
The announcement disappointed fans who had flocked to Neverland after reports indicated the family was planning services at the estate for Jackson, who died after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest on June 25.
However, Jackson's elder brother Jermaine told NBC television in an interview broadcast Thursday that he wanted to see the estate become his younger sibling's final resting place.
"This is his home, he created this. Why wouldn't he be here?" Jackson said in an interview recorded at the estate. "I feel his presence. He built this place with love and you can see it and feel it." The uncertainty over Jackson's funeral arrangements came as more light was shed on the star's multi-million dollar estate with the emergence of a 2002 will filed at a Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday.
Jackson would then be buried at the picturesque Forest Lawn cemetery nestled in the Hollywood Hills above Los Angeles, reports said.
A spokesperson for the Jackson family would not comment on the reports early Thursday. On Wednesday, the Jacksons had issued a statement ruling out the possibility of a poignant final farewell at the singer's Neverland Ranch.
"Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland," it said.
The announcement disappointed fans who had flocked to Neverland after reports indicated the family was planning services at the estate for Jackson, who died after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest on June 25.
However, Jackson's elder brother Jermaine told NBC television in an interview broadcast Thursday that he wanted to see the estate become his younger sibling's final resting place.
"This is his home, he created this. Why wouldn't he be here?" Jackson said in an interview recorded at the estate. "I feel his presence. He built this place with love and you can see it and feel it." The uncertainty over Jackson's funeral arrangements came as more light was shed on the star's multi-million dollar estate with the emergence of a 2002 will filed at a Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday.