Michael Jackson's Siblings Say Security Kept them Away From Their Brother

LOS ANGELES Nov. 1, 2011 — -- Two of Michael Jackson's siblings say their brother's security team kept them away from him as they made multiple attempts at interventions with the singer's drug problems.

"Many times we were kept away," Tito Jackson told the Associated Press. "It was not cool. I've actually got into physical fights with his security to get to him. And it wasn't good. "

Tito and his sister Rebbie Jackson are in London promoting a David Guest documentary about their brother's life, "Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon."

"He was in denial" about his drug abuse, Rebbie Jackson told the AP. "One thing I want to make clear. I'm sure the public have heard it, but we very much the family, we tried very hard, there were several interventions. Several."

Rebbie Jackson said that once she even drove her car right through the gates surrounding Jackson's house in an attempt to get to him.

"They would put vehicles in the road, to block us," Tito Jackson said. "It was ugly. The public didn't know, but we did many times try, but they kept him away like he was the president of the United States."

Jackson died on June 25, 2009 after receiving a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol. His doctor, Conrad Murray, has been on trial for manslaughter.

Murray claims he was trying wean Jackson off propofol as a sleep aid, and that his insomnia was exacerated by Jackson's alleged addiction to the painkiller Demerol.

Both the defense and prosecution rested in the case. Court will resume on Thursday for the closing arguments. If convicted, Murray faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license.

When asked if Murray's verdict will bring closure to the family, Tito Jackson replied, "I hope it does, but I don't think nothing will bring closure for her or any of the family members. It's just hard to fathom."

Earlier today, Murray told the court today that he would not take the stand in his own defense. He announced his decision after the judge told him he had a right to not testify and to invoke the Fifth Amendment to not incriminate himself.

He also warned Murray that if he did testify that he would be subjected to cross examination.

"My decision is that I will not testify in this matter," Murray told the court.

Murray was unsure whether to take the stand as late as Monday evening when he told the judge he was stilll "waiting to see how the case goes."

Prosecutors damaged Murray's case Monday -- and may have convinced Murray to stay off the stand -- by aggressively questioning the defense's star witness, propofol expert and anesthesiologist Dr. Paul White.

In a combative exchange, White, the defense's star witness evaded questions, but was continually pressed by prosecutor David Walgren.

White, who is being paid by Murray's defense team, was forced to admit that Murray should have called 911 sooner, should never have left Jackson alone while treating him with the powerful drug, and that he would never give a patient an inappropriate drug no matter how much he or she wanted.

"I think he should have called 911 earlier, but I do not think that would have made any difference in the outcome of this case," White said.

White had previously testified that he believes Jackson gave himself a fatal injection of the drug while Murray was out of the room.

Things got so heated in court Monday that White was found in contempt of court and fined $1,000 for violating the judge's order that he respond directly to questions during the prosecution's cross examination.

White was fined for referring to information he learned from Murray outside of the evidence presented in court. This is not allowed because it is seen as providing Murray a way to testify without being cross-examined. White was the last witness for Murray.

The defense team contends that Murray was trying to wean Jackson off of propofol. They allege Jackson wanted propofol because he was suffering from insomnia brought on by withdrawal from the painkiller Demerol.

At the time of his death, Jackson was preparing for his "This is It" world tour, and exhaustion from that preparation also allegedly contributed to his insomnia.