Carradine family angry over death photos

The family of late Kung Fu star David Carradine has threatened legal action after a Thai newspaper printed photographs of his dead body, reports BBC News.

The leaked images are thought to show the 72-year-old's body as it was discovered in a Bangkok hotel last Thursday. Police officials have claimed that he was found naked in a wardrobe with a cord around his neck and other body parts.

In a statement, the actor's brother said that the family were "profoundly disturbed" by the pictures and that "any persons, publications or media outlets will be fully prosecuted for invasion of privacy and causing severe emotional distress if the photos are published".

Relatives have also asked the FBI to join the investigation into the cause of death, after disagreeing with Thai officials that the star had taken his own life.

Mark Geragos, a lawyer for the family, said that they wanted external help because "all we really know is not much more than what the public knows, and that is disturbing".

The results of an autopsy carried out in Thailand are not expected for another three weeks, although early reports have suggested that Carradine might have died after an auto-erotic asphyxiation game went wrong.