‘I didn’t have a childhood,’ said drugged Jackson

Michael Jackson lies dead on a gurney in this evidence photo projection at Dr. Conrad Murray’s trial. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

LOS ANGELES - A heavily-slurring Michael Jackson said he loved children and felt their pain because “I didn’t have a childhood,” adding “I hurt,” in a harrowing recording played in court Wednesday.

In a phone call weeks before his death in 2009, the apparently drugged singer - whose career was torpedoed by child molestation charges in 2003 - said that planned comeback shows should be better than the Beatles or Elvis.

In the semi-incoherent exchange with his doctor Conrad Murray, who is on trial for Jackson’s manslaughter, the star talked about establishing a Michael Jackson Children’s Hospital with money from the comeback shows.

“Elvis didn’t do it. Beatles didn’t do it. We have to be phenomenal,” he said, adding that fans should leave his shows saying: “I’ve never seen nothing like this in my life ... He’s the greatest entertainer in the world.”

Referring apparently to money made from those shows, he continued: “I’m taking that money, a million children, children’s hospital, the biggest in the world. Michael Jackson’s Children’s Hospital.

“Gonna have a movie theater, game room. Children are depressed. The - in those hospitals, no game room, no movie theater. They’re sick because they’re depressed.”

After Murray replied, “I know you would,” Jackson continued: “I want to do that for them. That will be remembered more than my performances. My performances will be up there helping my children and always be my dream.

“I love them. I love them because I didn’t have a childhood. I had no childhood. I feel their pain. I feel their hurt. I can deal with it.” Referring to his own songs “Heal the World,” “We are the World,” “Will You be There,” and “The Lost Children,” he added: “These are the songs I’ve written because I hurt, you know, I hurt.”

In a poignant end to the conversation, there is then a 13-second silence, after which Murray asks: “You okay?” Following another eight seconds of silence, Jackson replies: “I am asleep,” and the call ends.

Murray is accused of involuntary manslaughter by giving Jackson an overdose of the powerful sedative propofol while trying to help him to sleep at his mansion in Los Angeles, where the star was rehearsing for the London comeback shows.

The “This Is It” concerts at the British capital’s O2 Arena were designed to resurrect his fortunes - both image-wise and financially - four years after his acquittal on child molestation charges which torpedoed his career.

AFP

한글 관련 기사 [뉴스엔]

마이클 잭슨 “나는 유년기가 없었다” 육성 공개, 형 저메인 잭슨 눈물

마이클 잭슨 생존 당시 육성이 또 공개됐다.

10월 5일(미국 현지시간) 미국 로스앤젤레스(LA) 검찰은 LA법원에서 진행된 마이클 잭슨 주치의 과실치사 혐의 관련 재판에서 법의학 컴퓨터 전문가 스테판 막스가 마이클 잭슨이 콘서트 ‘This Is It’ 런던 공연을 시작하기 2개월 전인 2009년 5월 10일 주치의 머레이에게 전화한 내용을 공개했다.

전화통화에서 마이클 잭슨은 "내겐 유년기가 없었기 때문에 그들을 사랑한다. 나는 그들의 고통을 느낄 수 있다. 나는 그들의 상처를 느낄 수 있다. 나는 그것을 고칠 수 있다. ‘Heal the World’, ‘We Are the World’, ‘Will You Be There’, ‘The Lost Children’ 이 곡들은 내가 아프기 때문에 쓰여진 곡들이다"고 말했다.

통화 끝에 마이클 잭슨은 “나는 자고있다”고 말했다. 재판정에서 마이클 잭슨 목소리를 들은 마이클 잭슨 형 저메인 잭슨은 눈물을 닦았다.

한편 마이클 잭슨 사망 원인은 중독성이 강한 마취제 프로포폴 남용에 의한 심장마비사로 결론이 났다. 만약 주치의 과실 치사가 유죄로 입증될 경우 머레이는 캘리포니아 형무소서 4년을 보내게 되고 의학 면허는 취소될 수 있다.