He was concerned about his Beatles catalogueMichael Jackson was haunted by the fear that someone was trying to kill him in the final months of his life.
The pop superstar suffered a cardiac arrest and died on June 25 after reportedly taking a cocktail of prescription pills at his home in Los Angeles - but paranoia may have led to the pain of his final days.
Jackson family lawyer Brian Oxman tells the upcoming issue of Life & Style magazine, "He feared somebody wanted to kill him.
"He was concerned people would kill him to somehow try to take control of the Beatles back catalogue."
Reports suggest Jackson may have left the Beatles songs he owned to Sir Paul McCartney in his will. The catalogue of hits were one of the singer's leading assets.
Meanwhile, close friends of the King of Pop have come forward with tales of the singer's final days, suggesting Jackson had been ill for weeks before his death.
One pal tells America's In Touch magazine, "He seemed to be taking a turn for the worse. Some of us suspected he was abusing powerful painkillers."
The source claims Jackson excused himself during a dinner party at a friend’s Bel Air home in mid-June - and asked to lay down.
The friend adds, "Michael was gaunt and had no appetite."
The Los Angeles coroner's office conducted a three-hour autopsy on Friday (26Jun09) and ruled out foul play in the Thriller star's death.
A final verdict will not be available for up to six weeks as officials await the results of toxicology, neuropathology and pulmonary tests to determine the exact cause of death.
Jackson's family members have called for a second independent autopsy. The results are pending.
