Quote Originally Posted by kgcole View Post
I might interject, though, that what someone would more likely say would be, "Can you imagine? Michael Jackson died!". To say "Michael Jackson has died" implies a fairly recent event, say, within a day perhaps.
Thank you, Kevin. Though I didn’t expect to hear this version of yours, your opinion is valuable to me. I’m trying to either prove or cast away a theory I came across in a text-book. Ok, let’s imagine a bit different situation. Let it be called "Our holiday".

Eugene and me have spent a month’s holiday on that island. (Eugene, don't panic, I only said “let’s imagine”). Jackson died on the second day of our stay there. Then we arrive at the airport, take a bus and come home. I take the mail out the mail-box. We sit down at the table and I look through the newspapers as we eat. Then I exclaim, “Can you imagine? Michael Jackson has died!”

Would you say that last sentense about Jackson? Is Present Perfect appropriate here? Mind the date of his death.

I would also appreciate the versions of all native English speakers who might read this post of mine and the previous one, that of the 5th of November, 02:57 PM, in the blue colour.

I would like to point out that you may not bother commenting your versions, just say what you would say. Nevertheless I would love to hear your comments or explanations if you have any.