Custody deal for Jackson kids

LOS ANGELES – A custody deal has been reached for Michael Jackson’s children that would see the biological mother of the two eldest earn parental rights and their grandmother retain permanent custody of all three, US media reported yesterday.

Under the agreement, the pop star’s mother, Katherine Jackson, ‘would get permanent custody of Michael’s kids – Prince (Michael, 12), Paris (11) and Blanket (Prince Michael II, 7)’, ABC News reported.Blanket’s mother has never been identified.Jackson’s ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, who has said she planned to fight for custody of her two children, ‘will retain her parental rights, but she agrees not to make a claim for custody’, NBC News reported on its Today show.However, said NBC, Rowe agreed not to claim custody of Prince Michael and Paris. She will obtain visitation rights, but no money beyond the spousal agreement already in place, reportedly worth some $8.5m.Quoting unnamed sources, the television network said the two older children now know that Rowe is their mother.’In fact, as a central part of the agreement, they’ll begin to have a relationship with her, now that their father is dead,’ it added, noting that a child psychologist would supervise the process.Although the deal has not been made public, ABC said on its Good Morning America show that all parties implicated in the custody agreement would appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday and that the judge was expected to approve the deal.On June 29, a Los Angeles court named Katherine Jackson as the temporary guardian of the three children.Rowe, who was married to Jackson from 1996 to 1999, signed away her parental rights to her two children in 2001, describing Jackson as a ‘wonderful man… a brilliant father.’However, a Los Angeles judge reversed the order in 2004 after Rowe cited concerns over publicity related to Jackson’s prosecution for child molestation. Rowe later settled the case, reportedly securing visitation rights.NBC also broadcast a rare home video shot in 2002 that showed Jackson playing at his Neverland Ranch with his children during his daughter’s fourth birthday.’I love my daddy so much. You’re the best daddy in the whole world,’ Paris said in the video.- Nampa-AFP