Jackson 'riddled' with needle marks: report

The day after an estimated billion people watched Michael Jackson's star-studded funeral, attention returned Wednesday to the role of drugs in his death with reports that his body was riddled with needle marks when he died.

The marks could indicate use of a powerful sedative that has been at the center of the investigation into the superstar’s death that includes an investigation of five doctors who were treating him.

CNN and ABC News cited unidentified sources involved in the probe as saying multiple track marks and several collapsed veins were discovered after Jackson's body was examined following his death on June 25.

The marks on Jackson's body "could certainly be consistent with the regular IV use of a drug, like Diprivan," CNN quoted the source as saying.

Several bottles of Diprivan, the brand name for the potent sedative propofol that is usually only used in hospitals ahead of major surgery, were reportedly found at Jackson's home after his death.

I say that anyone who makes someone an addict or gives a person potentially dangerous substances directly to them to use, like propofol is a criminal

Arnold Klein, dermatologist

Like manslaughter

Jackson's long-time dermatologist Arnold Klein treated the star three days before his death and on Wednesday denied giving the star dangerous drugs, saying that he was not under investigation and likening such a prescription to manslaughter.

"I say that anyone who makes someone an addict or gives a person potentially dangerous substances directly to them to use, like propofol is a criminal," Klein said."It becomes nothing more than a manslaughter, or something worse than that."

Experts have said there is no conceivable reason why Jackson could have had the drug at his home and that it should only be administered by a trained anesthesiologist.