Pathologists examine Jackson's brain for death clues

Michael Jackson’s death certificate has been released without a listed cause of death as a coroner said investigators were still testing the singer’s brain.

Public health chiefs issued the death certificate yesterday as public and private memorials were held in Los Angeles. The cause of death is listed as “deferred”.

Assistant chief coroner Ed Winter said Jackson’s brain, or at least part of it, was still being held by investigators and would be returned to the family for interment once neuropathology tests were completed.

“As soon as we are done with the brain, we will return it,” Mr Winter said. “There is a whole series of tests that will be done.”

It is not uncommon for the coroner to hold on to a brain or samples from it.

Mr Winter said families sometimes delayed burying a loved one until after the brain had been returned, but he had received no word from the Jackson family about their intentions.

“The last I heard, they are not burying the body yet,” he said.

Police and coroner’s officials continue to probe what killed the 50-year-old singer on June 25.

On the certificate, Jackson’s occupation is listed as a musician and the information provided for the document was given by Jackson’s sister La Toya, one of several family members who rushed to the hospital where Jackson was pronounced dead.

The document does not state where Jackson will buried.