VOA标准英语2009-Michael Jackson's Mother Requests Permanent

As fans mourn the death of pop star Michael Jackson, the singer's family is sorting out the details of his estate. Jackson's mother is asking to administer his estate on behalf of his three children.
　
Michael Jackson waves as he arrives at the Santa Barbara County courthouse in Santa Maria, California (Jun 2005 file photo)

The singer's mother, Katherine Jackson, filed court papers on Monday, asking to be named the permanent guardian¹ of Jackson's three children and the administrator² of his estate.

The court granted her temporary custody³ of the children - two boys and a girl who range from 7 to 12 years old - and set dates in July and August to take up the other questions. Two of Jackson's children were born to his ex-wife, Debbie Rowe; the third was born to a surrogate mother.

Michael Jackson's father, Joe, said the children should stay at the family's Los Angeles compound.

"Of course, this is where they belong," said Joe Jackson. "We're the parents and we've got other kids their size. They love those kids, and we love those kids too. We're going to take care of them and give them the education they're supposed to have."
　
Al Sharpton (l) and Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson's father hold a news conference in front of the Jackson family residence in Encino, California, 29 Jun 2009

Joe Jackson says the family is not ready to release details of the singer's funeral plans. A family friend, political activist⁴ the Reverend Al Sharpton, says they want to ensure that the pop star is properly honored.

"It is the determination of the family to be careful and deliberate on how they plan his celebration of life because we're talking about a historic figure that really changed pop culture around the world," said Al Sharpton.

Authorities are trying to determine what happened in the singer's last hours, as he suffered cardiac arrest in his rented home on Thursday. Investigators⁵ have questioned the physician who was with him, Conrad Murray, and are looking into the role prescription⁶ drugs might have played in Jackson's death. The doctor's lawyer told investigators that Murray did not give Jackson any medication that could have caused his death.

The Los Angeles County's coroner's office has conducted an autopsy⁷ and says there were no indications of trauma⁸ or foul⁹ play. The coroner's office says results from its toxicology tests could take up to six weeks. Meanwhile, the Jackson family has hired a private pathologist to conduct a second autopsy.

1 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

2 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

3 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

4 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

5 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

7 autopsy   

n.尸体解剖；尸检

参考例句：

• They're carrying out an autopsy on the victim.他们正在给受害者验尸。
• A hemorrhagic gut was the predominant lesion at autopsy.尸检的主要发现是肠出血。

8 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

9 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！