Mark Lester is dumbfounded by reports of his old pal Michael Jackson's dependancy on prescription medication - because he never once witnessed the King of Pop take drugs.
Former child actor Lester and Jackson are godfathers to each other's children, and the families spent time together in March (09) when the pop superstar was in London planning what were to be his comeback shows at London's O2 Arena.
The Thriller hitmaker suffered a fatal cardiac arrest last Thursday (25Jun09), amid rumours he died as a result of an accidental drug overdose.
But the reports have baffled Lester, who was close friends with Jackson for more than 25 years, because he had no idea the singer was taking the substances that have been linked to his death.
He says, "The circumstances of his death just don't add up for me. It just doesn't make sense."
Lester has spoken to the grieving Jackson family since their loss and is fully supportive of the star's mother, Katherine, filing for custody of the singer's three kids.
He adds, "I understand his mother is taking control and that is probably the best thing for them. She is a very loving, kind and gracious woman and she had a very close relationship with Michael and a very good rapport with her grandchildren. I know the kids are fine. They are deeply saddened by what's happened but they are coping."
And the British actor admits his own four children have been badly affected by the loss of their godfather: "They are devastated, coming to terms with the fact that we'll never see this great man again."
Katherine Jackson won temporary guardianship of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince 'Blanket' Michael II on Monday (29Jun09), but will have to wait until next month (Jul09) for a ruling on permanent custody.
The superstar's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, is expected to launch her own bid for custody of her two biological kids, Prince and Paris.
The results of the autopsy conducted by officials at the Los Angeles coroner's office are not due for another few weeks, while findings from a secondary autopsy, requested by the Jackson family, has yet to be released to the public.
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