La Toya Jackson claims Michael was ‘murdered’

Michael Jackson's sister La Toya Jackson has claimed that the 50-year-old singer, who died on June 25, was effectively murdered by a manipulative and "shadowy entourage" engaged in a conspiracy to get their hands on his money.

In an interview in Los Angeles, she said that his acolytes had cut Jackson off from his family and friends, and had forced him against his will to sign up for a gruelling 50 concerts at London's 02 arena.

"I believe Michael was murdered, I felt that from the start. Not just one person was involved, rather it was a conspiracy of people. He was surrounded by a bad circle," she said.

"Michael was a very meek, quiet, loving person. People took advantage of that," she said in an interview given jointly to the Mail on Sunday and the News of the World. "People fought to be close to him, people who weren't always on his side.

"Less than a month ago, I said I thought Michael was going to die before the London shows because he was surrounded by people who didn't have his best interests at heart."

Though the autopsy results will not be known for two weeks, La Toya, 53 (above centre, with Janet Jackson, left, and Rebbie Jackson, right), has had a private autopsy conducted. She apparently received the results last Friday but refused to comment on the details until the Los Angeles police conclude their investigations.

However, she revealed that four fresh needle marks were found on Jackson's neck. And she also disclosed that Jackson was not found in bed, as has been widely reported, but inside the nearby bedroom of his personal physician, Dr Conrad Murray - who later "disappeared" from the hospital where Jackson was taken.

La Toya also claimed that millions of dollars in cash and jewels disappeared from Jackson's house the day he died. She said: "Michael always had cash in his homes, usually around $2 million (£1.2 million) which he used to pay out on things. People said he wasn't wealthy, but Michael always had money with him.

"When I went to the house later that day there was no cash or jewellery. Someone went in there and did a good job." ·