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Michael Jackson's Trial http://www.bbfans.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=16988	Page 8 of 12

Author:	Madeline [ 16 Apr 05, 19:24 ]
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16th Apriil 2005 Michael Jackson's lawyer has launched an intense attack on the mother at the heart of his trial in California. Thomas Mesereau said Janet Arvizo's allegations about the pop star's alleged abuse of her son, Gavin, were "in her mind". Mrs Arvizo appealed directly to the jury, saying this was untrue, prompting the judge to intervene and admonish both her and Mr Jackson's lawyer. Mr Jackson denies 10 charges, including child abuse and kidnapping. The exchanges between Mrs Arvizo and Mr Mesereau were argumentative and unlike anything else heard during this trial so far, the BBC's Daniela Relph reports from the court. 'In your mind' Mr Jackson's team had spent two days listening quietly in the court in Santa Maria as Mrs Arvizo told jurors that she and her children were imprisoned at the star's Neverland ranch, and that they had been stalked by "killers". On Friday, in a series of tense exchanges, Mr Mesereau suggested her story was a lie. Thomas Mesereau arrives in court on 15 April Thomas Mesereau once defended boxer Mike Tyson "How many times, in your mind, did you escape from that dungeon, Neverland?" he asked during his cross-examination. While acknowledging that she had left the ranch and returned three times, Mrs Arvizo said she was enticed back by Mr Jackson's aides. When the mother suggested that she was a "bad actress" in a filmed statement made as a rebuttal to a British TV documentary about the star, he fired back: "I think you're a good one." At a number of points during their exchanges, Mrs Arvizo turned to the jury and told them Mr Mesereau's comments were inaccurate. Judge Rodney Melville warned the lawyer to be more professional, and told Mrs Arvizo not to argue and to stop making lengthy answers to Mr Mesereau's questions. Neverland is all about pornography, booze and sex with boys Janet Arvizo Later, Mrs Arvizo said Mr Jackson's associates had told her that the pop star never drank alcohol, but now she knew that was not true. "Neverland is all about pornography, booze and sex with boys," she said - a comment the judge instructed jurors to ignore. Again, Judge Melville turned to the witness and warned her not to advance her story beyond the question. Mrs Arvizo's response was to tell him and jurors that she found the situation difficult, because she had been waiting two years to speak. 'Justice, not damages' Mr Mesereau sought to portray Mrs Arvizo as a "professional plaintiff", seeking to make money out of allegations against the pop star. He pointed to a previous sexual harassment suit she had filed against department store chain JC Penney, where she had been detained on suspicion of shoplifting. We will never file a claim against Mr Jackson - I want justice here Janet Arvizo Mrs Arvizo and her children won a $152,000 settlement against the chain in the civil suit, where she and her children said guards had sexually assaulted her during her detention. "We will never file a claim against Mr Jackson - I want justice here," Mrs Arvizo said. Earlier, she took the court through some grainy video shot in various locations around Los Angeles in February and March of 2003. The tape was taken from the office of an investigator working for one of Mr Jackson's lawyers. Much of it appeared to have been filmed through a car windscreen and it showed the Arvizo parents outside their home and their daughter on her way home from school. Mrs Arvizo said the video was filmed by various associates of Mr Jackson during a time when she alleges her family was receiving death threats and had been held against their will at Neverland. If convicted, Mr Jackson could face up to 20 years in prison. BBC

Author:	Madeline [ 18 Apr 05, 16:58 ]
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18th April 2005 TV'S LARRY KING CALLED FOR JACKSON EVIDENCE TALK show host Larry King will give evidence at Michael Jackson's trial over claims he was told Gavin Arvizo's mother was just out for money. Jackson's lawyer served King with a subpoena as he left a news-stand in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, on Friday. The summons is over a a chat he allegedly had with lawyer Larry Feldman, who won an £12million out of court deal from Jackson for Jody Chandler in 1993, and book publisher Michael Viner. Jackson's defence team believes Feldman - who has also had meetings with Gavin Arvizo, now 15 - said unflattering things about his mother Janet Arvizo to King. The team claim Mr Viner concluded from what was said that she wanted money. Feldman allegedly said "she wants money". Feldman insists he never said anything damaging to King, who hosts Larry King Live on US TV channel CNN. King is not the first celebrity to give evidence at the trial in California. TV journalist Martin Bashir, whose 2003 documentary about Jacko led to him being charged, was also called as a witness. The judge told him that he had the right not to answer questions if they risked breaching journalistic confidentiality. Jackson, 46, denies sex abuse, abduction and false imprisonment. Mirror

Author:	Madeline [ 19 Apr 05, 7:22 ]
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19th April 2005 Jackson 'fooled the world' says accuser's mother Michael Jackson “managed to fool the world” that he cared about children, it was claimed in court today. The mother of the singer’s young accuser, launched a blistering attack on the star during a second day of intense cross-examination at Santa Maria court, California. She told Jackson’s child abuse trial he “didn’t really care about children, he cared about what he was doing with children”. The mother, whose testimony has been provocative and long-winded, looked directly at the singer as she said he had fooled the world, adding: “Now, because of this criminal case, people know who he really is. As her evidence came under close scrutiny by defence lawyer Tom Mesereau, the woman largely denied responsibility for various schemes and events arranged to raise money for her cancer-stricken son. But she admitted she had received various cheques and also set up a bank account for people to donate money to the family to help pay for her son’s medical treatment. This, she acknowledged, was despite the fact that the family ultimately paid nothing towards medical bills as it was covered by her ex-husband’s health insurance. Asked whether the thousands of dollars she withdrew from the account was spent on medical expenses, she replied: “No.” She also claimed that a local newspaper report, which said the poverty-stricken family was paying $12,000 for every chemotherapy treatment, had made a typographical error and should have said $1,200. She denied having ever asked any of Jackson’s aides for money, telling the court: “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” Michael Jackson’s defence team is attempting to portray the woman as a conniving money grabber who used her children to extort money from celebrities. She does not claim to have seen her son being molested by the pop star but is a key prosecution witness on the conspiracy charge. She has testified that she was held captive by Jackson aides who monitored her every move in the aftermath of the Martin Bashir documentary. The witness claimed Jackson planned to send her and her family to Brazil indefinitely and that his aides had “choreographed” the entire thing. She also admitted that she once told police she feared Jackson planned to get them away from his Neverland ranch by sending them off in a hot air balloon. “I told police that (Jackson aides) had many ways to make us disappear,” she said, acknowledging that a hot air balloon was one of them. Asked why she had not sought help or complained during the period of alleged captivity in February 2003, the woman told the court that she wished she had, but she was doing so now. Jackson denies molesting his accuser, then 13, plying him with alcohol and conspiring to hold him and his family captive. The trial was adjourned until tomorrow. breakingnews

Author:	Calrissian [ 19 Apr 05, 14:36 ]
Post subject:	Defence could take months ?
Listening to a reporter last night, suggesting that the defence could spend many months (4-5) taking apart every one of the prosecution witnesses. So...maybe it might not be over until well into the end of summer/early autumn? ------ The trial continues. Calrissian: Invokes the fifth amendment from time to time.

Author:	Spawn of Blagman [ 19 Apr 05, 15:22 ]
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Jacko made a get away attempt today

Author:	Madeline [ 20 Apr 05, 7:31 ]
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20th April 2005 Jackson’s accuser’s mother ends testimony The woman at the centre of Michael Jackson’s child abuse trial left the stand today after five days of rambling testimony in which she was alternately painted as a greedy opportunist and a mentally unstable victim. She repeatedly clashed with lawyers and gave impromptu outbursts as she was questioned at Santa Maria court, California. The mother of Jackson’s young accuser was a key prosecution witness on kidnapping and conspiracy charges but could prove just as vital to the defence, which painted her as a money-grabbing con artist who used her children to extort money wherever she could get it. Legal experts questioned whether she should have been called at all after a volatile performance which could have tainted her own credibility. At times mimicking Jackson’s unusual voice, gesturing wildly, bursting into tears and addressing the jury directly with lengthy statements unrelated to the question in hand, Judge Rodney Melville was constantly forced to strike comments from the record. Defence lawyer Mr Mesereau fired his final salvo today by suggesting she had hoodwinked civil lawyers in a previous case when the family won a US$150,000 (€114,845) settlement. He questioned the authenticity of bruises she allegedly received at the hands of a store’s security guards in 1998. The jury was shown pictures of the woman covered in marks from the alleged beating after her son was accused of shoplifting. She denied the bruises were the result of beatings by her former husband, who she has admitted frequently hit her and her children. She claimed the pictures were taken immediately after the altercation at the shop but was then forced to acknowledge that she had previously told police the marks did not show up straight away. Her mother later briefly testified that she had faked an illness to help get her grandchildren away from Jackson’s Neverland ranch. She said that Jackson’s accuser, then 13, had changed when he returned home for the last time and was rude and badly behaved. In a surprise development, the prosecution indicated that it would wrap up its case next week. As Jackson left the court, he was asked whether he felt that was good news for his case. “I think it’s going well, thank you,” he replied. Jackson denies all 10 charges against him. The court was adjourned until tomorrow. breakingnews

Author:	Madeline [ 21 Apr 05, 0:00 ]
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Jackson prosecution to wind down Jackson faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted Prosecutors at the Michael Jackson child abuse trial have said that they will finish making their case against the pop star next week. The announcement by chief prosecutor Tom Sneddon will clear the way for the defence to begin presenting arguments. Mr Jackson, who is accused of molesting a teenage boy in 2003, denies all of the 10 charges against him. The news came as Janet Arvizo, the mother of the boy Mr Jackson is accused of abusing, finished giving evidence. Stars may testify Mr Jackson is due back in court on Wednesday, but only for a half day. When the defence team begins making its case next week it is expected to call on a host of celebrities to testify to the singer's good character and innocent love of children. Janet Arvizo (right) outside court on 18 April Janet Arvizo (right) has been a key prosecution witness The stars could include Liza Minnelli and Liz Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and interviewer Larry King, as well as the former child star Macaulay Culkin. Mr Culkin, now 24, was befriended by Mr Jackson as a child in the early 1990s. Earlier in the prosecution case, a former maid at the pop star's Neverland ranch claimed seeing Mr Jackson behave inappropriately towards the Home Alone actor. Mr Culkin's spokeswoman has indicated that he does not want to take part in the trial. Among the stars the defence says will appear is talk-show host Jay Leno, who the defence says will testify that Gavin Arvizo, the teenager who Mr Jackson is accused of abusing, sought financial help from him. The testimony will boost claims that the molestation accusations were fabricated by the family to extort money from the singer. Janet Arvizo, Gavin's mother, who stepped down on Tuesday after giving evidence for five days, told jurors that she had never asked Mr Leno for money and was unaware of her son doing so. Earlier in the day, Mr Jackson's attorney had challenged the authenticity of photographs that appeared to show her with bruises from an alleged assault by store security guards. The woman's family received a settlement of more than $150,000 as a result of the 1998 incident. Although unrelated to the Mr Jackson case, the defence has used the suit to argue that the family has a history of making false claims for cash. The grandmother of Gavin Arvizo also gave evidence on Tuesday, telling the court in Santa Maria that her grandson's contact with the singer had had a lasting effect on him. When Gavin and his two siblings returned from three weeks at the star's Neverland ranch, they were "different kids", she said. Mr Jackson faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted on all charges. BBC

Author:	Christine [ 21 Apr 05, 14:50 ]
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Thanks for the updates Madeline

Author:	Madeline [ 22 Apr 05, 7:34 ]
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22nd April 2005 COURT SEES RANCH LOGS A former security guard at Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch has testified about a series of records which detailed activities at the property. Brian Barron was taken through logs kept at the main gate showing who came and left betwen February and March 2003. Gavin Arvizo and his family claim Jackson conspired to hold them captive over the period, in the wake of Martin Bashir's controversial documentary. The logs, shown to jurors at Santa Maria court, California, depicted various incidents including a time when Gavin was hit by a golf cart driven by a relative of actor Marlon Brando. On another day records showed that the entire Arvizo family left the property and returned several hours later. Gavin's mother, Janet, has testified that she took the family for an unnecessary trip to an orthodontist because she had hoped to somehow escape. Barron has told the court he was once given orders not to let Gavin, then 13, leave Neverland. Under cross examination Barron acknowledged that no children would be allowed off the ranch without supervision. The jury was discharged early to enable lawyers to debate various motions before Judge Rodney Melville. One involves a prosecution request to introduce a potentially explosive witness who claims to have taken a tub of Vaseline to the aroused pop star. Security guard Kassim Abdool, who worked at Neverland from 1991 to 1994, has told a grand jury that Jackson opened the door of his bedroom "sweaty and aroused," wearing only pyjama bottoms. He claims there was a boy in the room who he believed to be 1993 accuser Jordy Chandler, who received a hefty out of court settlement from the singer in 1994. Meanwhile, it was reported that child actor Macaulay Culkin would testify voluntarily in Jackson's defence. Jackson denies all 10 counts, including child molestation. Sky

Author:	Madeline [ 25 Apr 05, 23:46 ]
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25th April 2005 Mother of Jackson children cleared to testify against him The judge in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial ruled today that prosecutors may call the mother of two of Jackson’s children to testify against him. The ruling by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville followed arguments in which prosecutors sought to allow testimony by Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s children Paris and Prince Michael. Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen said prosecutors want Rowe to testify about a videotape she made praising Jackson at about the same time the family of his young accuser made a videotape praising Jackson as a father figure. The prosecution contends Jackson conspired to hold the accuser’s family captive to get them to make the videotape in order to rebut a damaging television documentary about Jackson. Zonen said in both cases Rowe and the family gave scripted interviews. He also said that in both cases children were used as “pawns” to get their mothers to speak in Jackson’s favour. Jackson defence attorney Robert Sanger said the videos were not scripted and testimony last week from the mother of the accuser that her remarks were not spontaneous was ”preposterous.” “We keep hearing ’scripted performances’ and there are no scripts,” Sanger said. Zonen also revealed in the course of arguments that Rowe has had her parental rights restored. Rowe once gave up those rights, but Zonen said she sought to get them back and a family court proceeding under way in Los Angeles involves Rowe’s efforts to “compel visitation” with the children. Zonen said Rowe was offered visitation rights with her children in return for her appearance on the video praising Jackson. Prosecutors planned to wrap up their case against Jackson this week, with the testimony they can present limited by several recent rulings favourable to the defence. In one, Melville ruled Monday that prosecutors may not call a man who was to testify that his young son once disappeared at Neverland for 90 minutes until he was found in Jackson’s bedroom. Sanger said the plan to call the man suggested “sort of a desperation” on the part of prosecutors. He also argued that the man’s son has denied that anything improper happened with Jackson. Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in February or March 2003, giving the boy alcohol and conspiring to hold the boy’s family captive to get them to rebut the TV documentary. breakingnews

Author:	Calrissian [ 26 Apr 05, 0:36 ]
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So....now the mothers of his children are up against him. Hmm, another significant drawback in Jackson's hopes of aquittal. I still would expect him to be found not guilty though - unless more evidence appears, there just seems too many holes/possibility of false testimony, that the jury could discount. Whatever the verdict though, fascinating case...and indeed even if he is found not guilty, would he ever get mainstream public respect again? Then again, the public seem to forget oh so easily these days. Calrissian: Prefers to hold a Grudge...for all eternity.

Author:	Madeline [ 26 Apr 05, 6:52 ]
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I think he is as quilty as sin of all the charges against him. I just hope his own Artificially Inseminated children are not left alone with him while this case is ongoing. Jacko minder's 'kill fear' ONE of Michael Jackson’s former security guards broke down in court yesterday as he told about death threats against his family. Kassim Abdool also explained how he once saw Jacko kiss and hug original accuser Jordy Chandler. He said he saw two pairs of swimming trunks together after the star and Jordy had been alone in a shower area. Abdool wiped away tears with tissues before revealing he was threatened when he agreed to give evidence in the 1993 Chandler case. He said quietly: “Calls threatened to kill me and my family.” Abdool, who demanded police protection, added he was also called to meet the singer’s lawyers. He told them he would “speak the truth” and that Jacko brought in new “intimidating” security staff around the same time. Abdool claimed they threatened staff at Jacko’s Californian Neverland ranch — and once even pointed a gun at a fan’s head. Earlier, Abdool’s colleague Ralph Chacon claimed in court he saw Jacko giving Jordy oral sex. He told how he saw Jacko and Jordy stood naked together, adding: “Mr Jackson was caressing the boy’s hair. “He was kissing him on the head, shoulders and lips. He then went down to his nipples, then going down to his *****.” He also told the court of another time that he saw Jackson kiss Jordy on the side of the face and then give him a hug outside a Peter Pan display at Neverland. It was at the same display that Chacon told the court he saw Jackson kissing Jordy “passionately” and grabbing the boy’s crotch. Judge Rodney Melville at the court in Santa Maria, California, yesterday ruled prosecutors CAN call Jacko’s ex-wife to testify about a video she made praising him. Prosecutors claim Debbie Rowe, 43 — mum of Jackson’s kids Prince Michael, nine, and Paris, seven — gave a scripted interview in 2003 so she could get visiting rights to her children restored. It is also alleged Jacko, 46, conspired to hold his accuser's family captive. Jacko denies all the charges including molesting the boy, then 13. The trial continues. Sun

Author:	Madeline [ 06 May 05, 7:57 ]
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6th May 2005 Two Jackson witnesses deny abuse Wade Robson was a regular visitor to Neverland as a child Two men who were portrayed as child abuse victims of Michael Jackson by prosecutors have emphatically denied they were molested by the singer. Wade Robson, 22, and Brett Barnes, 23, were the first witnesses to be called by the defence at Mr Jackson's trial. They were regular visitors to the star's ranch in the early 1990s and admitted sharing a bed with him. Mr Jackson, 46, denies 10 charges including child abuse and kidnap. If convicted, he faces 20 years in jail. Earlier, the judge declined a defence motion to have the charges thrown out. Mr Robson, an Australian-born dancer, told the trial in Santa Maria, California, that he first stayed at the Neverland ranch in 1989. He said he slept in the star's bedroom on all but three or four of his 20 or so visits. The two played video games, watched movies, talked and sometimes had pillow fights, he said. 'Nothing ever happened' "Did Mr Jackson ever molest you at any time," he was asked by defence lawyer Tom Mesereau. "Absolutely not," he replied. KEY PROSECUTION WITNESSES Gavin Arvizo, accuser - testified that he was twice molested Star Arvizo, accuser's brother - said he had twice seen Mr Jackson abuse Gavin as he slept Janet Arvizo, accuser's mother - said she and her sons had been held captive at Neverland Debbie Rowe, Mr Jackson's ex-wife - described Mr Jackson as generous and kind, and manipulated by his aides "Did Mr Jackson ever touch you in a sexual way," asked Mr Mesereau. "No, never," Mr Robson said. Under cross-examination, prosecutor Ron Zonen said: "What you're really telling us is that nothing ever happened while you were awake." "I'm telling you nothing ever happened," the witness replied. Mr Robson also rejected a prosecution witness's claim to have seen the two of them taking a shower together. Brett Barnes, also from Australia, told jurors he met Mr Jackson at the age of five when the singer passed through Australia on a tour. He said he stayed at Neverland at least 10 times and shared a bed with the star but, like Mr Robson, denied there was any impropriety. Mr Barnes said he was aware that witnesses had testified they had seen Mr Jackson touch him inappropriately. "I'm very mad about it," he said. "It's not true and they put my name through the dirt. I'm really not happy about it." Earlier, Judge Rodney Melville declined a defence motion for acquittal, saying all charges against Mr Jackson would go ahead. The star's lawyers had argued that the prosecution - which rested its case on Wednesday - had failed to prove the charges. The pop star arrived at the court on Thursday wearing a colourful waistcoat, accompanied by his father, Joe Jackson. BBC

Author:	Madeline [ 07 May 05, 10:01 ]
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7 May 2005 Mothers defend Jackson in court Mr Jackson's lawyers say he has an innocent love of children Two mothers who allowed their sons to share a bed with Michael Jackson have told a court in California of their love and respect for the pop star. Joy Robson and Marie Barnes, whose sons testified on Thursday, denied that their children had been molested by the 46-year-old defendant. The two men, now 22 and 23, admitted they often shared a bed with the star. The defence is trying to refute claims of a pattern of abuse by Mr Jackson, who denies all 10 charges he faces. The charges include molesting a 13-year-old boy two years ago, plying him with alcohol and conspiring to hold him and his family captive. If convicted, he faces 20 years in jail. The star's lawyers began their defence on Thursday by calling Wade Robson, 22, and Brett Barnes, 23, as witnesses - both of them Australians. Both admitted they had often shared a bed with Mr Jackson when they were young boys, but they rejected claims by the prosecution that they had been sexually molested. In calling the two mothers, defence lawyers were attempting to show the jury that Michael Jackson's unusual lifestyle and friendships with young boys were not sinister, says the BBC's Daniela Relph at the court in Santa Maria. 'Nice person' Joy Robson told the jury that Mr Jackson's love of children was "very pure" and she trusted him with her son. "They enjoyed each other," she said. "I remember Michael telling me it was like looking in the mirror. He saw himself all over again." She described the star's Neverland ranch in California as the "happiest place on Earth". KEY PROSECUTION WITNESSES Gavin Arvizo, accuser - testified that he was twice molested Star Arvizo, accuser's brother - said he had twice seen Mr Jackson abuse Gavin as he slept Janet Arvizo, accuser's mother - said she and her sons had been held captive at Neverland Debbie Rowe, Mr Jackson's ex-wife - described Mr Jackson as generous and kind, and manipulated by his aides Mrs Robson rejected suggestions from the prosecution that she thought Mr Jackson would help her son, who is now a dancer and film director, break into show business. "You're trying to make me say that was the basis for our friendship and that is not true," she said. However, she admitted her family had received financial help from the star, as well as help in legalising their situation in the US. Mr Jackson also helped organise a recording deal for her son, she said. In his testimony, Mr Robson said he slept in the star's bedroom on all but three or four of his 20 or so visits. They played video games, watched films, talked and sometimes had pillow fights, he said. Marie Barnes followed Mrs Robson into the witness box. She told jurors she trusted Mr Jackson implicitly with her son, who she allowed to go on tour with the star. "He's a very nice person," she said of Mr Jackson. "You just know when you can trust someone." The defence lawyers are expected at a later stage to call upon celebrity friends of the star, including former child actor Macaulay Culkin, actress Elizabeth Taylor, singer Diana Ross and basketball star Kobe Bryant. Mr Culkin, 24, made famous in film Home Alone, has repeatedly denied claims that Mr Jackson fondled him during visits to the singer's Neverland ranch more than a decade ago. BBC

Author:	Madeline [ 09 May 05, 7:23 ]
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9th May 2005 'JACKO LAD IN HIS BED FOR A YEAR' MICHAEL Jackson shared a bed with a boy of 10 every night for a year, his trial heard yesterday. Brett Barnes spent half the time at his Neverland ranch and half on his world tour, the boy's older sister Marie said. But Marie, who spent 100 nights on the estate, said she never feared her brother was being abused. Brett, now a 23-year-old jobless croupier from Melbourne, Australia, earlier insisted Jackson never fondled him. He told the trial: "If he had, I wouldn't be here right now. I wouldn't stand for it." t Aussie MTV host Wade Robson, 22, has also said Jackson did not molest him when he shared the singer's bed as a child. Jacko, 46, flew the pair and their relatives over from Australia as defence witnesses and is putting them up at Neverland. Wade's mum Joy was once concerned as Jacko and her son vanished for two days, she said. But she was happy to let them share a bed even after Jordy Chandler's abuse claims in the 90s. She refused to let police quiz her son for fear "they might manipulate him". Dad-of-three Jackson denies 10 charges linked to alleged abuse of Gavin Arvizo, then 13. The case in Santa Maria, California, goes on. Mirror

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