Michael Jackson fans to have cemetery access on 1st anniversary of his death

Fans of pop singer Michael Jackson are expected to receive limited access to Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale later this month on the first anniversary of his death, authorities said Tuesday.

Under the arrangement expected to be finalized this week, fans of the King of Pop will be allowed to pay their respects on the cemetery grounds but not at the Great Mausoleum, where Jackson’s body was interred in September, said Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz.

“We understand that Forest Lawn is working with the Jackson family for some kind of commemoration,” Lorenz said. “We will be working closely with Forest Lawn to ensure the safety of those who want to pay their respects to Michael Jackson while ensuring the safety of others who are coming to the cemetery to pay respects to their loved ones.”

Lorenz said fans will not be allowed to enter the Great Mausoleum, although discussions are continuing about how close fans will be able to get to the structure.

“Basically, they will be viewing it from a distance,” Lorenz said.

The city has no plans for now to issue special permits for the event, which means streets would not be closed and street vendors would not be allowed to sell memorabilia.

Jackson died June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest at his rented Holmby Hills mansion. He was pronounced dead at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.The Los Angeles County coroner’s office later ruled Jackson died from “acute Propofol intoxication” in combination with the use of sedatives. Coroner’s officials also found that the setup in Jackson’s bedroom did not include proper monitoring or precise dosing equipment, and an oxygen tank at his bedside was empty.

Authorities claim cardiologist Conrad Murray, who was hired to care for Jackson during the pop star’s ambitious comeback attempt last year, administered a lethal dose of the drugs. Murray was charged in February with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson’s death.

Murray told investigators that Jackson, 50, was a chronic insomniac who had depended for years on Propofol -- a white liquid the singer called “milk” -- to sleep, according to police affidavits filed in court.