Jackson's mother granted temporary custody of children
Jackson's parents granted temporary custody of children
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Tuesday, 30, Jun 2009 08:01
By Lewis Bazley.
The mother of the late Michael Jackson has been granted temporary guardianship of his three children, after a court hearing.
Following the singer's death at the age of 50 last week, Katherine Jackson has been granted temporary custody of Prince Michael, 12, Paris Michael, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II until a further court ruling in August.
Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe, the mother of the two eldest children, has not yet commented on the likely custody battle for the children, only offering a statement expressing her sadness at her late husband's passing.
Ms Rowe's lawyer Marta Almli said on Saturday: "Ms Rowe's only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael's family has suffered.
"Ms Rowe requests that Michael's family, and particularly the children, be spared such harmful, sensationalist speculation and that they be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace," she added.
However, it is thought Ms Rowe could contest the temporary guardianship ruling by the Los Angeles superior court, which would then place the children's fate in the hands of the courts.
Ms Rowe married Jackson in 1996, and is the mother of Prince Michael and Paris Michael, but is believed to have surrendered her custody rights to the children after she and the Thriller star divorced in 1999.
Speaking outside the family estate in Encino, California, following the temporary custody ruling, Jackson's father Joe commented: "We're the parents. This is where [the children] belong... We're going to take care of them and give them the education they're supposed to have."
He added plans were still being finalised for a memorial service for his late son and that a funeral would not be held until police investigations into the self-styled King of Pop's death had been completed.