TRAGIC recordings of Michael Jackson in which he pleads for financial help and fears for his life have been revealed by The Sun.
They show the star sometimes rambling and at other times virtually incoherent.
Desperate to seek refuge from his Neverland ranch and besieged by money worries, the star left a series of messages on a friend's telephone answerphone.
The tapes were handed to US journalist Daphne Barak after she wrote a book on celebrity addiction.
Ms Barak told The Sun yesterday they had been passed to her by friends, who wished to remain anonymous, to illustrate how the star appeared to be suffering the effects of an addiction to prescription drugs more than six years before his death last June.
Throughout the recordings Jackson, who died aged 50, appears anxious and paranoid his life is under threat.
In the first message he is determined to move away:
"It is Michael calling. It is very important, I want that 150 in that account for me, because... I am very concerned about my life. I am hearing a lot of stories that (name withheld) is still trying to sabotage (inaudible) me and I want to be in a different environment and, um, I've found a place that I like and now (inaudible) I want to be away for a while where they can't find me. So please help me, help (inaudible) help me, and, um, more important than (inaudible). We are brothers."
In a second, his voice is slurred and slow, which Ms barak believes is due to medication. He expresses concern about a figure who he says could be involved with the Italian Mafia.
"It is Michael. Ahh, it is 4:30 in the morning here that's why I sound very sleepy (laughs) and I'm really worn out... but please check the message I left a day or so ago. I am very concerned. I don't trust that man. We think he's bad, we think he is Italian mafia. Please... we must be smarter than him. So please, help me with this. I need to get that, those funds so I can do that, I wanna be away. . . I don't want to be in Neverland right now."
In a separate message Jackson again seems to be seeking money urgently.
"If you get this message call me immediately at 805 *** ****. What I want to talk to you about is very top - top secret... I need a German or Swiss bank... "
Read more and listen to the Michael Jackson tapes.
They show the star sometimes rambling and at other times virtually incoherent.
Desperate to seek refuge from his Neverland ranch and besieged by money worries, the star left a series of messages on a friend's telephone answerphone.
The tapes were handed to US journalist Daphne Barak after she wrote a book on celebrity addiction.
Ms Barak told The Sun yesterday they had been passed to her by friends, who wished to remain anonymous, to illustrate how the star appeared to be suffering the effects of an addiction to prescription drugs more than six years before his death last June.
Throughout the recordings Jackson, who died aged 50, appears anxious and paranoid his life is under threat.
In the first message he is determined to move away:
"It is Michael calling. It is very important, I want that 150 in that account for me, because... I am very concerned about my life. I am hearing a lot of stories that (name withheld) is still trying to sabotage (inaudible) me and I want to be in a different environment and, um, I've found a place that I like and now (inaudible) I want to be away for a while where they can't find me. So please help me, help (inaudible) help me, and, um, more important than (inaudible). We are brothers."
In a second, his voice is slurred and slow, which Ms barak believes is due to medication. He expresses concern about a figure who he says could be involved with the Italian Mafia.
"It is Michael. Ahh, it is 4:30 in the morning here that's why I sound very sleepy (laughs) and I'm really worn out... but please check the message I left a day or so ago. I am very concerned. I don't trust that man. We think he's bad, we think he is Italian mafia. Please... we must be smarter than him. So please, help me with this. I need to get that, those funds so I can do that, I wanna be away. . . I don't want to be in Neverland right now."
In a separate message Jackson again seems to be seeking money urgently.
"If you get this message call me immediately at 805 *** ****. What I want to talk to you about is very top - top secret... I need a German or Swiss bank... "
Read more and listen to the Michael Jackson tapes.