Final farewell as Michael Jackson laid to rest

More than two months after Jackson's sudden death from a drug overdose on June 25, mourners will gather for a sunset service in a mausoleum at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, a cemetery that is home to a galaxy of celebrity graves.

The service will be in stark contrast to the lavish public memorial held at Los Angeles's Staples Center in July, which was attended by 20,000 fans and beamed live around the world to an estimated audience of 1 billion.

Police in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale on Wednesday urged Jackson devotees to stay away from the funeral, warning that the neighborhood surrounding the cemetery's entrance would be on lockdown.

"A special request would be to encourage fans to stay at home," a statement said. "The closure of the streets for the day will not afford anyone the opportunity to get anywhere near the gates."

Police helicopters and search dogs would patrol the 300-acre (120-hectare) cemetery, on the lookout for any fans trying to sneak into the service, which is due to take place at 7:00 pm (0200 GMT Friday).

Jackson will be laid to rest in a gold-plated coffin at Forest Lawn's Great Mausoleum, an elaborate neo-classical building inspired by Genoa's famous Campo Santo.

Forest Lawn, which opened in 1906, is also home to replicas of some of Michelangelo's greatest works, including "David," "La Pieta" and "Moses." The cemetery also boasts a recreation of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" in stained glass.

Jackson's casket will be placed in a private section of the crypt that is also the final resting place of famous names from Hollywood's golden age such as Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Carole Lombard.

Other entertainment icons buried at Forest Lawn include Humphrey Bogart, Lon Chaney, Nat King Cole, Walt Disney, Errol Flynn and Jimmy Stewart.

Although open to the public, the funeral home is renowned for its strict privacy, and unlike many other Hollywood cemeteries, does not provide maps.

"The Great Mausoleum where he is going is like the Holy Grail of grave hunters," Scott Michaels, who runs a sightseeing tour specializing in the macabre side of Hollywood, told The Los Angeles Times.

"There are cameras all throughout it, and if you are just wandering about, they will find you and kick you out."

One of Jackson's brothers, Marlon, meanwhile revealed in an interview with a British newspaper that the singer's children -- Prince Michael, 12, 11-year-old Paris and Prince Michael II, 7 -- would leave notes in their father's coffin.

Messages reading "Daddy we love you, we miss you," would be placed in the casket alongside the pop icon's trademark single white glove, Marlon said.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles judge supported a request from Jackson's mother, Katherine, that the cost of the service should be paid for by her son's estate.

A lawyer for the two entertainment industry figures who control Jackson's fortune said the costs of the service would be steep.

"The expenses will be extraordinary, but Michael Jackson was extraordinary," Jeryll Cohen said, without specifying the anticipated bill.

Los Angeles coroners said last week that Jackson's death was being treated as homicide and revealed the star had six drugs in his body when he died, including propofol, a powerful anesthetic.

Propofol is used to induce unconsciousness in patients undergoing major surgery in hospital. Medical professionals say it should never be used by private individuals at home.

The coroner's announcement fueled speculation that authorities may charge Jackson's personal physician, Conrad Murray, in connection with the death. Cardiologist Murray was the last person to see Jackson alive.

Jackson, one of the most influential figures in pop music history whose four-decade career included the highest-selling album of all-time -- "Thriller" -- had been preparing for a July concert comeback at the time of his death.

Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the Emirates Business 24|7 daily newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.