LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s struggle against drug addiction was on display Monday during opening statements in his mother’s wrongful death case against concert promoter AEG Live.

Competing portraits of Jackson emerged during the first hours of the trial, with Katherine Jackson’s attorney acknowledging the pop star’s drug problems while also trying to show he was a caring son and father.

“His stirring voice, his musical genius, his creativity and his generosity and his huge heart was extinguished forever,” her lawyer, Brian Panish, said in his opening remarks.

AEG’s attorney, Marvin Putnam, said that while Jackson’s death was tragic, his guarded private life meant the company was unaware that he was using the powerful anesthetic propofol.

“The truth is, Michael Jackson fooled everyone,” Putnam said. “He made sure that no one — nobody — knew his deepest, darkest secrets. …

“This case is about personal choices,” Putnam said about Jackson’s decision to be treated by physician Conrad Murray. “Also, it was about his personal responsibility. There’s no question that Michael Jackson’s death was a terrible tragedy.

“I believe the evidence will show it was not a tragedy of AEG Live’s making,” Putnam said as he ended his opening statement. Testimony will begin today.

Panish said AEG created a conflict of interest for Murray and forced him to choose between a large payday and Jackson’s care. He told the jury AEG was feeling competitive pressures and wanted the Jackson tour to work at all costs.

“They didn’t care who got lost in the wash,” Panish told the jury.

Panish played a song that Jackson wrote for his three children, “You Are My Life,” and displayed a note the singer had written for his mother that brought tears to her eyes as she sat in court.

Katherine Jackson dabbed her eyes after Panish read a note that her son wrote to her, detailing his feelings about her. “All my success has been based on the fact that I wanted to make my mother proud,” the singer’s note said, “to win her smile of approval.”