Police investigating the death of Michael Jackson are considering launching a murder probe as more details emerge about his intake of prescription drugs.

LA Police Chief William Bratton revealed that detectives investigating Jackson's death were looking at his medication history and trying to talk to his numerous former doctors.

Chief Bratton said that police were waiting for the coroner's report before ruling out any possibilities in their "comprehensive and far-reaching" investigation.

Results from toxicology tests ordered by the coroner are still weeks away.

However new leaked findings of the preliminary reports submitted to the Los Angeles county coroner's office show that Jackson had lethal levels of the painkiller Demerol and the heroin substitute methadone in his body when he died.

Tests show the tragic star had taken a variety of drugs which would have killed any normal person instantly.

But the star had been on vast quantities for so long that his body had become tolerant to huge doses until his fatal collapse two weeks ago.

ANXIETY

An insider in the case said: "Michael Jackson was a walking drug store when he died -- he never stood a chance.

"The body can build up extreme tolerances to huge doses of drugs but eventually it overloads and just shuts down. That is what happened to Michael. Tests showed that as well as Demerol and metha-done, he had taken four more painkillers and anaesthetics plus anti-anxiety pills." Further details concerning the extent of Jackson's medication intake continue to emerge with reports that he ordered staff to get him prescription drugs and travelled to other states for more pills.

Meanwhile, Jackson's father repeated his assertion that "foul play" was involved in his son's death.

Joe Jackson said he did not know anything about drugs his son was involved in.

"I don't even know the name of them," he said. "I do know that whatever he was taking was to make him rest because he had been working so hard."

The Jackson patriarch added that he and his wife Katherine should have custody of Michael's three children: "They'll grow up to be strong Jacksons."

He added that Michael's children might have a future in entertainment. Prince Michael II, nicknamed Blanket, "can really dance", Jackson senior said. A custody hearing is due to take place on Monday at LA's Superior Court.

Jackson was known to have abused prescription medicines for many years.

FAKE

According to leaked reports, Santa Barbara County Sheriff deputies who raided the Neverland ranch back in 2003 found a syringe, powerful narcotics, sedatives, oxygen tanks, vials and IV bags containing what could have been anaesthesia.

His former bodyguard told police that the King of Pop used a variety of fake names to get hold of prescription drugs.

His family had tried to attempt an intervention to save him from his drugs hell just months before he died.

fdillon@herald.ie

- Fiona Dillon