Jacko's ex-wife to fight for custody of kids
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Michael Jackson's ex-wife says she will fight for custody of their two children.
Former dermatologist nurse Debbie Rowe, who married Jackson in November 1996 during the Australian leg of his HIStory world tour, has said in an interview that she will fight for custody of Michael Joseph, 12, who is known as Prince, and Paris-Michael Katherine, 11.
On Wednesday, it emerged Jackson's will specifically cuts out Rowe, who he first met in the mid-1980s, when he had treatment for the skin condition vitiligo. They divorced 10 years ago and Rowe gave Jackson full custody of the youngsters.
Jackson's will sees his entire estate left to a family trust which will provide for his 79-year-old mother Katherine as well as Prince, Paris and his youngest child, seven-year-old Prince Michael II, who is known as Blanket and was born to a surrogate mother.
The will, written in July 2002, also names Katherine as the children's guardian, but if she is unable to care for them, singer Diana Ross will step in.
Jackson's brother Jermaine, who has been speaking about his brother's death, said: "I thought it was a great will because the children are fine, my mother's the perfect person to be there, and it's definitely him."
And he said Neverland would be the perfect final resting place for his brother. The singer's family has already said his body will not go on public display at the famous ranch, located 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles in Santa Barbara County.
Jermaine, four years older than Michael, said of Neverland Valley Ranch: "This is his home. He created this. Why wouldn't he be here?"
He also revealed that when he saw the body of his sibling in an LA hospital last Thursday, he kissed him on the forehead and wished that he had died instead.
He said: "I don't know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me. I've always felt that I was his backbone. Someone to be there for him."
US reports have claimed Jackson used aliases to get prescription drugs but Jermaine said the allegations hurt his family, adding: "For people to come forth and say things that they don't have the facts to is very damaging to the family, to me, to us, because we don't know.
"Michael has always been a person who was against anything like that."
The US's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been called in by police in LA as they probe the claims. The agency has vast experience in dealing with drug abuse and could evaluate the potential role of illegal drug manufacturers known as pill mills.
An official autopsy has been performed but toxicology tests won't be ready for weeks. Results of a private autopsy by a family doctor on behalf of the Jackson family have not been released.
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Picture: Rex
