Michael Jackson wanted "to redeem image" with O2 gigs

A doctor and close friend of Michael Jackson has claimed the star was hoping to "redeem his image" with the This Is It
concerts in London.
"He wanted to go
out with a flash,"
said Dr Allan
Metzger on a tape
played out at
Jackson's wrongful death trial.
Dr Metzger's testimony, recorded during the
trial of Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray, was
played by lawyers on behalf of promoter AEG
Live.
It is being sued over Jackson's death in 2009
but denies any wrongdoing.
"He was still terribly hurt about the trial
and the accusations," said Dr Metzger
referring to the singer's 2005 trial on child
molestation charges.
He paid tribute to "a great guy ... a
wonderful, generous person".
His recorded testimony, which concluded the
case for the defence, contradicted many
accounts of Jackson as an ailing figure,
forced to commit to more concerts than he was
capable of doing and reliant on prescription
drugs in the final months of his life.
Recalling an "anxiety call" from Jackson in
February 2009, he said: "I think he was
fearful because this was it and he needed to
do a lot of perfectionalizing [sic]."
"He wanted it to be something that had never
been done before.''
Sleep therapy
Dr Metzger said Jackson was anxious that he
might not be able to sleep when he got to
London to kick off the concerts. Dr Metzger
said he suggested putting him in touch with
sleep therapists in London, but Jackson
resisted.
In his last meeting with Jackson in April,
2009, the singer asked Dr Metzger for
intravenous sleep medication, but the doctor
said he refused, telling Jackson it was
dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
He said Jackson never mentioned Conrad Murray
or taking the anaesthetic propofol.
Jackson died of an overdose of the
anaesthetic, given to him by Murray - who was
convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
Jackson's family claim AEG negligently hired
and supervised the physician,
However AEG, which was promoting his planned
comeback concerts, denies it hired Murray.
Lawyers acting for Jackson's mother -
Katherine - have said the singer was not an
addict. They are expected to deliver a brief
rebuttal, with closing arguments set for
Monday.
The case is now in its 21st week. Jurors are
expected to begin deliberations next week.

Source-bbc

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