Deal over MJ kids’ custody will be struck within days, says pal

London: A close pal of Michael Jackson has said that a new deal over custody of the late singer’s kids by Debbie Rowe will be struck within days. Debbie is the mother of Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11. She agreed three-times-a-year visits and a cash deal to give Jackson full custody in 2006.

The ‘Thriller’ hitmaker’s mother Katherine is temporary guardian of the two kids and his son Blanket, seven, by an unidentified surrogate mother. A custody hearing is scheduled for August 3, but former Jackson aide Stuart Backerman insists that a deal would be struck out of court. "My belief is that Debbie Rowe will not contest the custody of the children. The only possible thing which would be pushing her is that she feels that Katherine at 79 may not be able to raise the kids for much longer or how long she`ll live,” News of the World quoted Backerman as saying. "The family want her to finally take a back seat. Debbie signed off parental authority and custodial authority to Michael a while ago but she may be yearning for more of a role with the kids," Backerman added. According to a Jackson family lawyer, Katherine and Debbie have been working to "privately and amicably resolve" the custody issue. ANI