Last Updated: 17 Aug 2009

Michael Jackson dies age 50

Mere weeks before the start of his long-awaited come back concert Michael Jackson has died in LA after a cardiac arrest.

Although the world is stunned at the news, those close to him say the warning signs about his health deterioration have been clear to see for some time.

Michael had struggled to make many of his auditions for the upcoming concerts, at the time the reasons for this were glossed over. But now reports are emerging that Michael had apparently developed a severe addiction to painkillers.

Sources claim that his problem with painkillers dates back to 1993 when he had an accident on the set of a Pepsi Advert. But they say is was the trial in 2005, for which he was found not guilty, that 'broke him mentally and physically'.

During the trial he was taken into the court a few times in a wheelchair, blaming this on problems with his back. But insiders say it was a mixture of back pain and the stress of the trial that left him physically 'wrecked'. The back pain is also rumoured to have made him become ever more dependent on painkillers.

Although more will be revealed after the autopsy, there has been speculation over the cause of death, as a known symptom of a painkiller overdose is cardiac arrest.

The controversy that has followed Michael about for the last 15 or so years has at times overshadowed his contribution to music but we want to know what you think. Are you heartbroken at the death of a music legend or have you be anti-Michael for some time? Share your views below...