Michael Jackson's sister has claimed that the singer was murdered by a conspiracy which was motivated by money.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, La Toya Jackson claimed that the iconic musician was surrounded by a "bad circle" of hangers-on who were not concerned with the star's best interests.

The 53-year-old commented: "I believe Michael was murdered, I felt that from the start. Not just one person was involved, rather it was a conspiracy of people."

She also told the newspaper that she did not believe Jackson would live to play his 50-date residency at the London O2 arena, because he was "worth more dead than alive" to the people who were connected with him.

In addition, La Toya revealed that a private autopsy of the Thriller star's body has been carried out and confirmed that his body had four fresh needle marks on it.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles police chief William Bratton told CNN that the force has not ruled out murder as the cause of the entertainer's death and will decide if a criminal investigation will be launched after receiving the results of toxicology examinations.

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written by news desk on 13/07/2009 11:01:1