Shocking Pictures Shows Michael Jackson's Drug-Ravaged Legs

Shocking photos have emerged showing how drugs ravaged Michael Jackson's legs as it was revealed that detectives are treating his death as homicide.Bruises, needle marks and a gruesome black wound can be seen in the previously unseen images which were broadcast to millions by U.S. TV network ABC.

They had been released by the singer's father Joe to show his son had vitiligo, the skin-whitening disease, which Jackson had always claimed he'd had.However their release has raised more questions about the star's drug use.The black wound appears to have been caused where an intravenous line, fed into his leg, was removed and fluids dripped into his lower leg.

Normally, IV tubes go into the arms. There are also puncture marks (circled in a picture below) peppering the skin on his legs which appear to have been caused by needlemarks.Dr Debra Jaliman, a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Dermatology, told the ABC network: 'It looks like there are multiple punctures from intravenous placement.

If the IV fluid went into his skin it may have destroyed it.'The specialist said of the 2002 pictures it was 'unusual' to inject drugs into the legs, but that the measure would be taken if no veins in the upper body were accessible.The blackness of the wound is believed to be the result of necrosis, the death of most or all the cells in tissue due to disease.The website TMZ, which broke the news of Jackson's death, reports that the initial investigation has pinpointed the anaesthetic Propofol as the primary cause of his death. Vials of Propofol were found in Jackson's home after he died.