Michael Jackson's body removed from coroners as family make funeral arrangements
MICHAEL Jackson's body has been removed from the Los Angeles coroner's office and transported to a private mortuary after police spoke with the star's personal physician.
LA Coroner on Jackson's death
Michael Jackson's autopsy results are delayed while his body is tested for prescription drugs.
Jackson's body was driven away from the office at 9.15pm local time in secret and away from the eye of the media and awaiting fans.
"Mr Michael Jackson's remains have been removed from the coroner's office," LA county assistant chief coroner Ed Winter said.
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His remains have been taken to an unknown location at the request of his family. There's a security hold on the case so I can't disclose the location.
"We're still waiting on the toxicology reports and the completion of other reports.
The post mortem showed no signs of foul play in the singer's death, but coroners have deferred releasing the cause of death until results of further tests are returned. But it is expected that the verdict will take another six to eight weeks.
The autopsy on Jackson took a little over three and a half hours to complete before his body was released to the family as they decide on funeral arrangements, Mr Winter told Sky News UK.
Winter, who spent the most of today with Jackson's family said that: "they've lost their brother and son, a member of the family. They are all grieving in their own ways. The family request prayers and thoughts."
Police are meanwhile investigating claims that Jackson received a pain-killing injection just before he died, under increasing pressure to prepare for a series of gruelling comeback concerts in London next month.
Cardiologist Conrad Robert Murray was contacted by police after it was revealed he was with Jackson when he collapsed at his rented mansion on Thursday, but did not sign a death certificate and was attempting to revive him while an ambulance was called.
Murray is at the centre of the police inquiry amid claims that Jackson had been receiving daily injections of pain-killer Demerol.
Detectives had earlier seized a car linked to the doctor and Karen Rayner, a police spokeswoman, after it was revealed it might contain "medications or other evidence that may assist the coroner in determining the cause of death".
Just before he died, Michael Jackson insisted that his concert promoter's payroll include Dr Murray.
Dr Murray was hired by AEG Live to accompany the pop star to London for his comeback series of concerts, said AEG Live President and Chief Executive Randy Phillips.
"As a company, we would have preferred not having a physician on staff full-time because it would have been cheaper without the hotels and travel, but Michael was insistent that he be hired,'' Phillips said. "Michael said he had a rapport with him.''
Jackson's brother Jermaine said yesterday it was believed the pop singer went into cardiac arrest.
Jackson had been rehearsing heavily for his gruelling schedule of 50 concerts, which were due to start at the O2 arena in London on July 13.
Mr Phillips said that despite reports of Jackson's ill-health, the popstar had passed a four and a half-hour physical examination with independent doctors.
at Michael taking over iTunes... The KING!!
they were so cute together.
she also performed billie jean, thriller and beat it! cant wait to see that
