FORMER child star Mark Lester has called for justice after reports that the death of his friend Michael Jackson was being treated as homicide.

The Oliver! actor, who works as an osteopath from his home in Fairview, Cheltenham, reacted angrily to the news the singer allegedly died from a lethal dose of propofol.

The 51-year-old said police should focus investigations on Dr Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, who allegedly administered a powerful sedative to the King of Pop just hours before he collapsed and died.

Speaking to American news channel MSNBC he said: "I was very close to Michael and I knew there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. I just find it absolutely horrendous.

"Questions obviously have to be asked – why would his doctor use these kinds of medications? It is just ridiculous when maybe a couple of sleeping tablets would have done the trick. This is like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

"I know that Michael had problems with sleeping from time to time but I was never aware of his use of medication whatsoever."

The news about the homicide verdict was broken by an anonymous law enforcement official, who said the Los Angeles County coroner had decided the singer died after being given a lethal cocktail of pharmaceutical drugs.

The developments have raised the possibility of charges being filed against Dr Murray, who has already been named as the target of a manslaughter investigation.

Mark, godfather to all three of Jackson's children, has been the focus of a media scrum after the singer's death on June 25.

He hit the headlines earlier this month after claiming he was the real father of the King of Pop's daughter, Paris.

The osteopath thinks the girl bears an uncanny resemblance to his 15-year-old daughter Harriet.

Mark was one of Jackson's closest friends, having first met him when the Jackson Five visited London more than 30 years ago.

The pair had been friends ever since and it is believed Jackson secretly visited Mark's home in Cheltenham.