Michael Jackson's Body Will Be Taken To Staples Centre

Michael Jackson’s body will be taken to the Staples Centre in Los Angeles for the star’s public memorial service.

A Los Angeles police spokesman said the body would be moved from the Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood.

It is not yet clear whether Jackson’s casket will travel to the arena by motorcade or helicopter.

Initial reports had claimed Jackson’s body would not be present for the ceremony.

As previously reported on Gigwise, Jackson’s memorial service will feature performances from Mariah Carey and Stevie Wonder.

Other stars set to appear at the Staples Centre include Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Smokey Robinson and basketball players Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant.

Martin Luther King II and Shaheen Jarfargholi – a former contestant on Britain’s Got Talent – are also due to attend.

The public ceremony, which gets under way at 6pm (GMT), is set to be a celebration of Jackson’s life and career.

Follow the event as it happens now on Gigwise’s live blog here.

Michael Jackson Memorial In Pictures