LOS ANGELES — King of Pop Michael Jackson’s mother is seeking billions of dollars from tour promoter AEG Live over her son’s 2009 death, in a trial that will finally get underway in Los Angeles in April.



Jury selection begins Tuesday for the trial, in which Katherine Jackson accuses AEG of negligently hiring doctor Conrad Murray to look after her son as he prepared for a doomed series of London shows.



Murray, jailed after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 for giving the singer an overdose of the drug propofol, could be called to testify, although he may refuse to do so, lawyers have suggested.



The 82-year-old Jackson matriarch herself, as well as the late pop star’s two elder children, will also give evidence in the trial that comes nearly four years after his death, and could last more than two months.



The trial could also broach child molestation allegations against Jackson, after the trial judge allowed such evidence even though the singer was acquitted of charges in 2005.



Jackson died at his LA mansion on June 25, 2009 aged 50, from an overdose of the powerful sedative propofol, administered by Murray to help the “Thriller” legend deal with chronic insomnia.



At the time of his death, he was rehearsing for a series of 50 shows in London, organized with Anschutz Entertainment Group in what was seen as an attempt to revive his career, and also to ease his financial woes.



Jackson’s mother claims that AEG Live pushed her son too hard to prepare for the London shows. — AFP