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Fans waiting for news of Jackson service
2 Jul 2009Fans mourning the death of Michael Jackson will have to wait for a public memorial to the pop singer after his family said his body would not go on show at Neverland.
Plans for an event where people can pay their respects to the late star are still being worked out and will be announced "shortly", a spokesman said.
It had previously been suggested the singer's body could be taken to the Californian property following his death last week at the age of 50.
A statement released last night by Sunshine, Sachs & Associates, the public relations firm employed by the Jackson family, read: "Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland.
"Plans are under way regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly."
Once a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses, Neverland - the 2,500-acre property in the hills of Santa Barbara County's wine country - became the site of a makeshift memorial after his death following a cardiac arrest last Thursday.
Meanwhile, the battle over Jackson's legacy was set to continue after it emerged Jackson left his fortune to his three children and his mother.
Jackson's entire estate is left to a family trust, which means under US laws the exact details do not have to be made public.
But the will, made in July 2002, cuts out his former wife Debbie Rowe.
The family trust will provide for the children - aged between seven and 12 - and Jackson's 79-year-old mother Katherine.
It will also distribute some of Jackson's fortune to several charities, website TMZ.com reported.
The will also names his mother as the guardian of the children and singer Diana Ross as a successor trustee to Jackson's mother if necessary.
When the will was written, Jackson's estate was estimated at more than £300 million.
But Jackson's death prompted a spike in his US album sales, which were up to 422,000 in the week to Sunday, compared with 10,000 a week earlier.
A judge ruled yesterday that Jackson's mother will retain limited control of 2,000 items from Neverland until another hearing is held next Monday.
Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff called for a speedy compromise between attorneys for Mrs Jackson and the two co-executors of Michael Jackson's will - lawyer John Branca and John McClain, a music executive and a family friend.
"I would like the family to sit down and try to make this work so that we don't have a difficult time in court," the judge said.
Jackson had been booked to play 50 gigs at the O2 arena in London starting later this month.
The King of Pop's tour promoter Randy Phillips, president of AEG Live, said he hoped there could be tribute concerts to Jackson.
