Michael Jackson's struggle against drug addiction has been put on display during opening statements at his mother's wrongful death case against concert promoter AEG Live.
Competing portraits of Jackson emerged during the first hours of the trial, with Katherine Jackson's lawyer acknowledging the pop star's drug problems while also trying to show he was a caring son and father.
AEG's lawyer Marvin S Putnam said, however, that the singer's guarded private life meant the company was unaware that he was using the powerful anaesthetic propofol. "The truth is, Michael Jackson fooled everyone," Mr Putnam said. "He made sure that no one, nobody, knew his deepest darkest secrets."