Paris Jackson wowed the world when she spoke at her father’s public memorial four years ago — and now the King of Pop’s daughter is prepping for an encore.
The singer’s second-born is slated to take the witness stand in the upcoming trial involving her dad’s 2009 overdose death, a well-placed source told the Daily News.
Her older brother Prince, 16, also plans to face the jury once the trial gets underway Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The source said Paris, 14, handled her recent deposition with “great poise” and welcomes an opportunity to “tell the truth” about what she saw and heard in the months leading up to her dad’s shocking death in a darkened bedroom of their Holmby Hills estate.
Reuters
Michael Jackson rehearses for the "This Is It Tour" prior to his death in 2009.
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“Prince and Paris both will be testifying,” the source close to guardian and grandmother Katherine Jackson said.
“Prince was older and more tuned in and saw certain things, but they’re both very strong kids, and they’ve never tried to keep anything from becoming public,” the source said.
The upcoming trial centers on a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Katherine Jackson and the kids in 2010. Jackson, 82, says concert promoter Anschutz Entertainment Group negligently hired and supervised the physician convicted of giving the “Thriller” singer a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol.
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Jackson died in 2009 at age 50. His doctor, Conrad Murray, was convicted of giving him a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol.
AEG contends Dr. Conrad Murray was selected and employed by the King of Pop himself, and that company bigwigs were unaware he was a danger as Jackson prepared for his “This Is It” comeback concerts.
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“This family has always been in favor of full disclosure. They believe whatever the facts are in this case, they should come out,” the source said of the decision to put Paris and Prince on the stand.
Michael Jackson’s youngest son, Blanket, 11, will not be called. “He was too young at the time, and he’s still too young,” the source said.
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Katherine Jackson's wrongful death lawsuit alleges that concert promoter AEG hired Conrad Murray to be Michael Jackson's physician.
Another source said Katherine Jackson has reservations about Prince testifying in an open courtroom, but won’t stand in his way.
She “understands that Prince feels he is a man, but is terrified about the emotional and psychological impact on him talking in public about his father,” the second source said.
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Prince’s testimony is expected to focus on several key moments in the final weeks of his dad’s life, including a meeting held with Michael Jackson, Murray and concert executives worried about the singer’s rehearsal performances.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP POOL
Michael Jackson's children during the public memorial service for the pop star in 2009.
Prince heard key discussions about the future of the tour, Jackson’s health and what was expected of Murray, sources said.
The two teens also witnessed the chaos that ensued after their dad stopped breathing — and Murray botched efforts to resuscitate him. Murray, 58, is now serving four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
“This won’t be a murder trial,” the source close to Katherine said. “It’s a negligence case. It’s about people making mistakes. It’s why Allstate is in business.”
Michael Jackson died at age 50 before the contract hiring Murray as his $150,000-per-month personal doctor was signed. AEG argues that Murray was not an employee of the company.
Whatever happens with each side’s witness list, the judge earlier agreed to a request by Katherine Jackson to ban any discussion of paternity related to Michael Jackson’s kids.
“Evidence intended to show that Michael Jackson is not the biological father of his children is irrelevant,” said the motion filed by her lawyers and approved by the judge.