Dame Elizabeth Taylor got Michael Jackson "on the road to addiction", it has been claimed.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor

Dame Elizabeth Taylor

The late King of Pop died from acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009, and his former personal physician, Conrad Murray, has insisted the 'Thriller' singer was not introduced to painkillers and sleeping pills by medical professionals, but by his actress friend, who passed away in 2011 aged 79.

In an extract from his book 'This Is It', which has been obtained by the Daily Mirror newspaper, Murray wrote: "I was heavily engaged in talking to [Michael] about weaning him from the use of the [anaesthetic] Propofol.

"I veered far from the wake of his request, to visit Elizabeth, so my meeting her never happened.

"I later learned it was Taylor who first got Michael on the road to addiction by introducing him to pain and sleep pills."

Murray claims Michael's drug abuse hit new levels in the run up to his 50-date London residency - which was due to kick off in July 2009 - and when he refused to prescribe him pills, he turned to other doctors.

And Murray - who was jailed for the involuntary manslaughter of the singer after administering a final fatal dose of medication - thinks his famous patient was feeling the pressure of such a high-profile long-running comeback.

He said: "Maybe he was ­realising he couldn't do it. Yet he had to live and pay his bills. He had already mortgaged his life."

After Michael's passing, Elizabeth admitted her heart was broken and she was left feeling "empty".

She said: "My heart ... my mind ... are broken. I loved Michael with all my soul and I can't imagine life without him. We had so much in common and we had such loving fun together. I was packing up my clothes to go to London for his opening when I heard the news. I still can't believe it. I don't want to believe it. It can't be so. He will live in my heart forever but it's not enough. My life feels so empty. I don't think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I've ever known. Oh God! I'm going to miss him. I can't yet imagine life without him. But I guess with God's help ... I'll learn. I keep looking at the photo he gave me of himself, which says, 'To my true love Elizabeth, I love you forever.' And, I will love HIM forever."

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