Coroner’s report on Jackson, custody hearing delayed

LOS ANGELES - The coroner’s report into the death of Michael Jackson has been delayed for another two weeks as speculation continues to prevail about the cause of the pop star’s death, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said Friday.

Legal officials also announced the postponement of a custody hearing for Jackson’s children, which had been set for Monday. The hearing is now scheduled to take place on Aug 3 and Jackson’s mother, Katherine, retains temporary guardianship till then.

The postponement came amid reports of positive negotiations between Jackson’s former wife, Debbie Rowe, and his mother over the custody of the children. Jackson named Katherine as their guardian in his will, but as the mother of his two oldest children - Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11 - Rowe could press claims for their custody in court.

Prior to the coroner’s announcement Friday, the report into Jackson’s death had been expected at the beginning of next week. Initial comments by officials indicated that Jackson had died from cardiac arrest, possibly caused by an addiction to prescription

painkillers.

But over the past two weeks there has been mounting evidence that Jackson used a dangerous hospital anesthetic to overcome his insomnia as he prepared for his 50-concert comeback in London.