King siblings reach estate deal

FEUDING heirs of the Rev Martin Luther King have reached an agreement over control of the late civil rights leader’s estate, ending a year-long legal battle.

Martin Luther King III and Bernice King had been largely estranged to their brother Dexter amid claims that he shut them out of decisions involving their father’s legacy.

But after more than 14 hours in court, the three stuck a deal in which a temporary custodian would be brought in to run King Inc, allowing them to focus on repairing their personal relationships. After the deal was announced, the siblings all expressed a desire to mend the rift that has split the family in recent months.

The King estate had been controlled as a private corporation by all three. But in July 2008, Bernice, 46, and Martin Luther King III, 51, sued their 48-year-old brother claiming that he acted inappropriately by making decisions without their consent and refusing to hold a shareholders’ meeting.

After the marathon session, Dexter King said: “This allows us to begin the healing process. I’m looking forward to the future. The most important thing is that we can advance the legacy of our parents.”

His elder brother Martin Luther King III said: “We have always loved one another. After all, we are all we have.”