Jackson's dad suspects "foul play" in death

Alex Dobuzinskis

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's father said on Friday he suspected "foul play" in the death of his pop star son, as lawyers disclosed talks aimed at settling guardianship of the singer's two children with his ex-wife.

The previously unknown talks caused a Los Angeles court to delay by one week a key hearing over custody of the kids, who are now being cared for by Jackson's 79-year-old mother.

Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, told ABC News in a TV interview Friday that he was dumbfounded when he learned his son collapsed at home and was being rushed to the hospital.

"I just couldn't believe what was happening to Michael. I do believe it was foul play. I do believe that," he said, without elaborating.

The "Thriller" singer died suddenly over two weeks ago after suffering cardiac arrest at his rented Los Angeles mansion. He was 50. Since then, numerous media reports have surfaced about powerful prescription drugs found by police at Jackson's home after his June 25 death.

"I didn't know anything about the drugs," Joe Jackson said. "I didn't even know the name of them. But I do know that whatever he'd taken was to try to make him rest because he had been working so hard, and that drug was supposed to try and make him relax.

"But anyway he didn't wake up. He never woke up. Michael died in his sleep."

Toxicology reports are pending on the official cause of Jackson's death, but numerous media reports have said that the dangerous sedative Diprivan -- normally used in hospitals by anesthesiologists -- was found at the singer's home.