Michael Jackson told his doctor he would cancel his comeback gigs in London unless he received a dose of the anaesthetic propofol, a court has heard.

Detective Orlando Martinez said Dr Conrad Murray spoke about Jackson's threat during an interview with police shortly after the singer's death in June 2009.

The testimony came at the start of the second week of a preliminary hearing of Dr Murray in Los Angeles.

The doctor, who was working with the King Of Pop ahead of his ill-fated comeback gigs, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Detective Martinez said Dr Murray told police he battled to get to Jackson to sleep on the night of his death on June 25, reports Sky News.

At 3.40am (PST), the singer said that he would cancel is This Is It dates if he did not receive another dose of propofol, which he called “milk”.

On Monday (January 10), the court also heard how Dr Murray ordered 255 vials of the drug that killed the singer in 2009.

The preliminary hearing is expected to last several days as a judge decides whether there is enough evidence for Dr Murray to face a full trial.

(by Jason Gregory)