“Michael had appeared at the rehearsals a couple of times. He was very seriously trying to be able to do these rehearsals. But his use of medications and injuries he had sustained performing had got in the way.”

“He had broken a vertebrae performing and he had broken his leg in a fall from the stage. I don’t know the extent of the medications he was using but the reports that we have been receiving in the family were that it was extensive.”

While another friend of Michael’s added:

“It’s clear that the criminals in this affair are the doctors who treated him throughout his career, who destroyed his face, who gave him medicine to ease his pain. He was a hypochondriac and one never really knew if he was sick because he had become surrounded by charlatan doctors who were billing him thousands and thousands of dollars worth of drugs, vitamins.”

But promoters for the upcoming O2 tour claimed he had to pass a four and half hour medical assessment with independent doctors in March before they’d agree to give the shows the go ahead and at the time promoter Randy Phillips said, “He's as healthy as can be - no health problems whatsoever.”

Meanwhile, a post-mortem is expected to take place later today.