Family fight over Michael Jackson's will boils over into confrontation
BY RITA SHERROW World Television Editor
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
7/24/12 at 11:45 AM
Some members of Michael Jackson's family have put his children square in the middle of a battle.
On Monday, members of the late pop singer's family, including sister Janet, 46, and brothers Randy, 50, and Jermaine, 57, showed up at the Jackson family compound in Calabasas, Calif., and a confrontation ensued, according to tmz.com.
Surveillance video from the home shows Janet Jackson trying to take a cell phone away from Paris, 14, twice and Randy stopping her while both used their phones to videotape her entering the house. Prince, 15, is seen entering the house with the youngest son known as Blanket, 10.
Off camera, some type of physical altercation occurred. Los Angeles Country Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene when one family member accused another of "physical assault." A battery report was taken but no arrests were made, according to hollywood.com.
Steve Whitmore, a spokesperson for the L.A. County Sheriff's Department told the website "... We arrived and began our investigation. Deputies determined that a minor scuffle had occurred between two Jackson family members."
According to MJ Estate, Michael's children have since been moved from the home to a secure location, reported the website.
Late Saturday, Katherine Jackson, 82, who has custody of the children, was reported missing by a nephew but was apparently not missing. She is with daughter Rebbie in Arizona has spoken to the police, according to the website and is "not in danger," according to tmz.com.
Also, Michael Jackson’s siblings Janet, Jermaine, Randy, Rebbie and Tito reportedly signed a letter asking that the late singer's will be declared a fraud and the executors of the estate, John Branca and John McClain, be removed. The will left everything to Jackson's children under the care of his mother and excluded all other family members.
According to tmz.com, a statement read by Sandra Ribera, attorney for Katherine Jackson Monday said: "Yesterday afternoon certain Jackson family members ambushed Katherine Jackson's home after their vehicle tore through security gates on the tails of the SUV containing Michael Jackson's children."
"After exiting their vehicles, Jackson family members ran up to Michael's children as they yelled and began to aggressively grab at the cell phones in their hands. Out of concern for the well being of Prince, Paris, and Blanket Jackson, the children were forced to temporarily leave their home and taken to a safe location. An altercation ensued shortly thereafter and law enforcement arrived at the scene.
"Following the incident, it was learned that one of the family members who was part of the ambush admitted that a plan has been in place for the last three years to remove Katherine Jackson from her home and her beloved grandchildren.
"Prince, Paris, and Blanket Jackson have not heard from their grandmother since she left their home nine days ago to attend a series of her sons’ concerts on their Unity Tour. She never made the shows."
The website also reported executors of the MJ estate released a statement saying, "We are acutely concerned about the welfare of Mrs. Jackson, and most particularly with Michael's minor children."
"We are concerned that we do what we can to protect them from undue influences, bullying, greed, and other unfortunate circumstances. While we do not have standing to directly intervene, we have monitored the situation and will continue to do so. We believe measures are being put in place that will help protect them from what they are having to deal with."
Another report by the website on Tuesday says the estate is filing legal papers to ask the court for temporary guardianship of the children.
The King of Pop died June 25, 2009.
TMZ has posted this 3-minute unedited video of what it says "turned into a confrontation at the Jackson family compound Monday."
Associated Images:
Katherine Jackson is pictured with, from left, her grandchildren Prince, Blanket and Paris.COURTESY/Lester Owen/WireImage
|
