Michael Jackson's bodyguard claims he was killed by the stress of allegations

Michael Jackson’s bodyguard Bill Whitifield has claimed that stress over child abuse allegations was one of the contributing factors to the star’s death.

Jackson died in 2009 of a cardiac arrest, attributed to a fatal dose of the anaesthetic propofol, but Whitfield believes that the weight of the accusations also took their toll on the King of Pop’s health.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: "The last time I saw him was about two weeks before he passed away. He didn’t seem happy."

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Whitfield said that he wasn’t aware of any major health issues and blamed the singer’s physician Dr Conrad Murray for giving him the wrong dosage. Murray was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served two years in prison.

However, elaborating on what he believes to be the cause of Jackson’s death, Whitfield said it was down to "all forms of stress, whether it was coming from his family, his lawyers, his management, some fans, the negativity of being labelled a child abuser."

He also touched on the star’s financial situation, saying: "We were going through a time where a lot of people were not getting paid because of the financial situation with Mr Jackson's companies and management.”

He added: "Mr Jackson got quiet. He was more reserved and seemed down."

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The former bodyguard also hit out at the recent documentary Leaving Neverland, in which two men detailed the abuse they allegedly received from Jackson when they were children.

"Anyone who personally knew Mr Jackson knows he was not the individual they’re describing in any shape or form,” said Whitfield.

"Listening to these gentlemen speak on the Mr Jackson I knew tells me how much they are seeking to get money out of it."