Michael Jackson 'Increasingly Relied On Painkillers'

Michael Jackson came to rely on painkilling drugs in the last few months of his life, his family's lawyer has claimed.

Brian Oxman said Jackson had taken the drugs throughout his career, and increasingly as he rehearsed for his comeback gigs, which were due to start next month.

Mr Oxman also claimed Jackson's “enablers” had aided the star's dependency on medication to heal injuries sustained onstage.

He told CNN: “This is not something that has been unexpected... because of the medications which Michael was under.

“I do not know the extent of the medications that he was taking but the reports we had been receiving in the family is that they were extensive.

“When you warn people that this is what’s going to happen and then it happens... where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

Jackson was due to play 50 shows at London's O2 Arena, starting on July 13.

His family's lawyer said old injuries, which the star sustained throughout his career,  were “getting in the way” of rehearsals.

But he added: “I do not know the extent of the medications that he was taking.”

As previously reported on Gigwise, Jackson is believed to have died from a suspected heart attack in Los Angeles.

Paramedics were called to Jackson's home shortly after midday. The star was already in a coma when they arrived and died two hours later in hospital.

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