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Marriage to Lisa Marie Presley
Date confirmed on signed marriage certificate (archived) (“26 días del mes de mayo”)
...[Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley] first became close when Lisa Marie flew to Las Vegas to support Michael at his comeback appearance in a disastrous Jackson family show.
The marriage is being regarded as a massive coup for the Church of Scientology known for recruiting top stars like Tom Cruise, his wife Nicole Kidman, and John Travolta.
TODAY has discovered that the family of Lisa's ex-husband Danny even encouraged the romance.
Witnesses at he wedding were Danny's brother Tommy and his wife, Eve Hart, who teaches Scientology.
For the last two years, Lisa Marie has been living at the Scientologists' base in Clearwater, Florida, with her children, where she has been studying and working.
Flew
A mamber of the Keough family said: "Lisa Marie's relationship with Jackson developed after she flew to Vegas.
"He was heckled by the audience, but she stood up for him.
"They began seeing a lot of each other. They have been to both Disney World and the Sea World in Florida and spent a lot of time together.
"She didn't tell her mum, Priscilla, or any of us that she was marrying."
True
"When Priscilla questioned her about it on the telephone, she told her mother it was true, then hung up.
"She knows that marrying Jackson is a triumph for the Scientologists. He no doubt will be handing over masses of money."
He is said to be worth at least £400 million. She inherited £100 million from her father's estate.
Lisa Marie has introduced Jackson to the religious cult and he has been attending services.
The secrecy surrounding the organization appealed to his reclusive nature at a time when his popularity had dipped to an all-time low. Jackson chose the Latin American equivalent of Las Vegas for his cheap, no frills wedding.
The nuptials were held up for 11 days when terrified Michael barricaded himself and Lisa Marie in their hotel suites, after local people took to the streets to protest about alleged vote rigging in presidential elections.
After the security-conscious star's request for the ceremony to be held on a plane in Dominican Republic airspace was refused, he insisted it take place at the home of Judge Hugo Alvarez Perez on May 26.
Vows
Jackson was dressed all in black including a fedora, which he politely removed to take his vows. His bride wore a beige minidress.
Senor Perez's wife translated the ceremony, which was conducted in Spanish.
But their children were ushered away by bodyguards who also searched the house for hidden cameras and video recorders.
The couple exchanged rings, but there was no kiss from Jackson for his bride.
"He was very shy about saying the words, but when it came to the "I do" part, he said it casually, like 'Yeah, why not'", said the judge.
But Jackson could now be in trouble with the Los Angeles district attorney who may want to know why he broke an agreement not to leave the US.
His passport was being held by his own legal team.
"We are extremely angry that we were not notified", said one prosecutor. The singer was so determined to keep the marriage secret, he did not tell his family.
Father Joe said last night: "When we heard about this marriage, I thought it was just another stupid story.
"But I have spoken to Michael's people and they tell me it's true. I knew they were seeing a lot of each other. They have been friends for a long time>"
"She is a lovely girl and very spiritual, like Michael. I can see them having that in common."
"The Daily Telegraph" UK newspaper
...The Dominican judge who married them says: "It seemed they wanted to get it over as quickly as possible. When it came to the part where they say, 'I do', neither said it with much conviction. Michael was very shy about saying the words. He said them casually, like, 'Yeah, why not?'"
"They arrived in a white Toyota van", said the judge.
"They exchanged gold wedding bands. Afterwards, he invited me to stay with him in California."
Am American woman named Eve Darling and Thomas Keough--believed to be a relative of Lisa Marie's former husband Danny--were present as witnesses, he claimed.
Ceremony
Jackson's bodyguard made a videotape of the ceremony, added Mr. Perez.
The exclusive Dominican Republic resort of Casa de Campo--which has its own airstrip and dock--said Jackson had stayed there in May.
...Judge Hugo Francisco Alvarez says he conducted the ceremony at his home in La Vega on May 26.
He says Jackson made a secret visit to the island in April and asked to be married on May 18 in an aircraft.
"All the arrangements were made through an American lawyer", said Alvarez. "I refused to do a ceremony in an aircraft and we then discussed a civil ceremony in the home of a prominent industrialist.
"Jackson turned it down because he thought details might leak out. Then the date had to be changed to May 26, because of electoral problems and I offered my home and promised total secrecy."
Jackson, 35, is said to have paid about £20 for the service, attended by two lawyers, a woman holding a baby, and a man understood to be a bodyguard.
Mr. Alvarez said: "One of the lawyers did the translating. The ceremony was entirely in Spanish. Jackson was very shy and didn't have the braids I had seen in pictures. She seemed a bit nervous.
"Afterwards, he thanked me for the arrangements, and invited me to visit him if I was ever in California."
The witness signatures were said to be those of two Americans, Eve Darling and Thomas Keough.
Lisa Marie, sole heiress to the multi-million-dollar Presley estate, separated last year from her Scientologist husband Danny Keough. They have two children--Danielle, five, and one-year-old Benjamin--and in May, she announced that she was filing for divorce.
Janet Palli, publicity director for the resort of Caso de Campo, said: "MIchael Jackson stayed here in a private villa from May 25 to May 27. I didn't see him, but other members of staff did. He flew in on his private plane from Puerto Rico."
