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Michael Jackson's Trial http://www.bbfans.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=16988	Page 4 of 12

Author:	Madeline [ 03 Mar 05, 2:17 ]
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3rd March 2005 A PR expert has told the Michael Jackson child abuse trial that the TV documentary at the heart of the case was an "absolute disaster". Ann Kite told the court in the Californian town of Santa Maria she was hired to "crisis manage" the fallout after the programme had aired in 2003. Jurors saw the film, in which the pop star held hands with the alleged victim, on Tuesday. Mr Jackson denies 10 charges of child abuse and false imprisonment. If convicted, he could face up to 21 years in prison. I said, `Don't make me believe that these people were hunted down like dogs and brought back to the ranch' Ann Kite Ms Kite suggested Jackson's associates had been intent on launching a smear campaign against the accuser's family after the airing of Martin Bashir's film Living with Michael Jackson. She told the court that in the aftermath of the broadcast, a Jackson lawyer had told her the boy's mother would be made to look like a "crack *****". Jackson's defence questioned Ms Kite's credibility, pointing that she worked for the singer's team for less than a week before being fired, and had never met or spoken to the star. 'Concern' for family Ms Kite said she received a phone call on 13 February 2003 from a Jackson associate, Marc Schaffel, who said the boy and his family had left the Neverland ranch where they had been staying. Ms Kite told the court she had later asked Jackson's lawyer, David LeGrand, what had happened. "I said, `Don't make me believe that these people were hunted down like dogs and brought back to the ranch'," she said. Ms Kite began to work for Mr Jackson in February 2003, after the controversial film was televised in the US and Europe. The documentary sparked a media storm and the subsequent investigation into Mr Jackson's relationship with the boy. In the film, the singer said he did not see anything wrong with sharing a bed with a child. Questioned by the prosecution, Ms Kite said her plan had been to move media coverage of the star away from a focus on his human frailties to concentrate more on his musical genius. Ms Kite said that an additional problem was the release of documents relating to a previous allegation of child abuse against Mr Jackson. The Smoking Gun website publication was "beyond disaster", Ms Kite said. Correspondents say the reference is important because it was unclear whether the prosecution would be able to bring up the previous case in front of the jury. Question of contempt The judge is studying whether the prosecution's first witness, reporter Martin Bashir, is in contempt of court. The defence protested after Mr Bashir, who interviewed Jackson for the TV documentary, refused to answer nearly all their questions, citing a California "shield" law intended to allow journalists to protect their sources. In the prosecution's opening statement on Monday, Tom Sneddon told the court that Mr Jackson had shown the boy porn and plied him with wine, in order to molest him. He said the singer had visited sexually explicit websites and showed the boy - who was 13 at the time - and his younger brother pornography at his ranch. BBC

Author:	Madeline [ 03 Mar 05, 18:07 ]
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3rd March 2005 Jay Leno regularly jokes about Mr Jackson on The Tonight Show US TV host Jay Leno, who is set to give evidence in Michael Jackson's trial, has urged a rethink of a court order gagging everyone involved in the case. Mr Leno has asked the California trial judge to lift or clarify the ban on discussing the case outside court. He regularly makes jokes about Mr Jackson on The Tonight Show - but the gag order could put a stop to that. Mr Jackson's lawyers want to call Mr Leno as a witness. The singer denies 10 charges relating to child molestation. The presenter hosts the nightly Tonight Show on the NBC network. Mr Leno's court motion said: "This court could not possibly have intended its gag order, which was issued more than a year ago, to limit public personalities like Mr Leno from commenting on public proceedings in this case." Mr Jackson's lawyer Thomas Mesereau has said the family of the boy at the centre of the case tried to get money from Leno, who became suspicious and called the police. Mr Leno even joked on air about being called as a defence witness. He quipped his relationship with Mr Jackson was innocent and all they did was cuddle but "people have to make it something dirty". Another of Leno's recent jokes was: "Today, Michael Jackson's lawyer said that he will not play the race card - mainly because he can't figure out what race Michael is." BBC

Author:	PB [ 03 Mar 05, 19:10 ]
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Has anyone thought if Jacko wins whilst claiming its "natrual" for adults to sleep in the same bed as children, not related to them, it could be a defence for every paedo in America

Author:	Calrissian [ 03 Mar 05, 19:39 ]
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pobbop wrote: Has anyone thought if Jacko wins whilst claiming its "natrual" for adults to sleep in the same bed as children, not related to them, it could be a defence for every paedo in America no, and no. --- People are a little bit too focused on the various quirks of jackson. Sure, there is the analogy of whether a parent would let their youngsters sleepover in the bed of some 'bizarre character who lives down the road'. etc. But....when it comes down to it, the only issue is whether he was indeed utterly abusing their trust, and other more darker things. **** Calrissian assessment so far: Jackson looks likely to be found not guilty - assuming the case isn't thrown out early on. From the bits I have read on the leading prosection. witness/s, doesn't look like they will be reliable testimony at all. **** Calrissian: Always reliable

Author:	PB [ 03 Mar 05, 19:47 ]
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Hmm, well i'm no expert in American law, but from watching LAlaw a lot, i think a lot of judgements made are "precedent-led", but i guess that shouldn't affect the judgement

Author:	Madeline [ 04 Mar 05, 1:21 ]
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3rd March 2005 Jackson "tried to stop family seeing documentary" Michael Jackson flew a teenage cancer patient and his family from California to Miami in a bid to stop them seeing a television documentary in which he admitted sharing his bed with boys, the jury in the singer's child sex abuse trial has been told. The now 18-year-old sister of the boy Jackson is accused of molesting said she, her two brothers and her mother were flown in a private jet to Miami and taken to the pop superstar's hotel suite on the night in February 2003 the documentary was due to air in the United States. The documentary, by former ITV journalist Martin Bashir, had already been broadcast in Britain. It showed Jackson and his accuser holding hands and nuzzling while talking on camera about their friendship and has been key to the prosecution's case. "He (Jackson) was kind of, like, upset about it. He didn't want us to see it," the sister told the jury. She added that at one point her mother left the suite but was brought back by Jackson's aides. Her brother and Jackson spent several minutes alone behind closed doors that day, she said, adding her brother was behaving strangely. "He was just very hyper, very talkative, running around, very playful, more talkative, more jumpy," she said. Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting the girl's then-13-year-old brother at his Neverland ranch in central California and plying the boy with alcohol. He is also accused of conspiring to commit false imprisonment, child abduction and extortion after the documentary created what the prosecution has termed a public relations nightmare. The self-styled "King of Pop" has pleaded innocent and faces more than 20 years in prison if convicted on all 10 counts. The jury on Thursday also saw video of the singer's glitzy Neverland bedroom suite -- the place where Jackson is said to have groped the boy -- that was filmed by police during a November 2003 raid on the ranch. The room was replete with pictures of stars like Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Temple, stacks of videos and a glittering bedspread. Two adjoining rooms were filled with character dolls and mannequins from shows such as "Star Wars," "Superman" and "Batman." Jackson's lawyers have argued he was the victim of a scheme by his accuser's mother to extort money and that the boy and his brother ran wild during a stay at Neverland, getting drunk and looking at pornography. A woman who worked briefly as a public relations consultant for Jackson after the Bashir documentary testified on Wednesday that Jackson's advisers planned to smear the mother of his accuser as a "crack *****." The consultant, Ann Kite, conceded she never met or spoke with Jackson and had no sense he was directing the activities of his aides.yahoo

Author:	Madeline [ 04 Mar 05, 13:51 ]
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4th March 2005 Jackson 'gave alcohol to victim' The abuse is alleged to have taken place at Jackson's Californian ranch The sister of the boy at the centre of Michael Jackson's child abuse trial says she saw the pop star giving her brother wine at his ranch. The girl told the court she saw Mr Jackson drinking alcohol with her brother and two other boys. She also told the court her family was isolated and coerced by Mr Jackson's aides at a time when prosecutors claim he was abusing her brother. Mr Jackson, 46, denies 10 charges of child abuse and false imprisonment. If convicted, he could face up to 21 years in prison. Earlier on Thursday, the jury was shown footage of a police raid on the pop star's Neverland ranch in November 2003. The search of the estate in the hills above Santa Barbara in California came in the early stages of the police investigation into the abuse claims. The video included images of the singer's bedroom and two rooms filled with stuffed toys and dolls. Miami trip The sister of the boy alleged to have been sexually abused by Mr Jackson told the court of the time she spent with her family at the pop star's ranch, following the broadcast of a damaging documentary about Mr Jackson's private life. She said her brothers spent most of their time away from her with Mr Jackson. The opening statements On one occasion, she followed them into a wine cellar hidden behind a jukebox in a room full of toys, where she found her brothers drinking wine with the singer. She claimed her brother frequently appeared hyper-active and aloof after being with Mr Jackson. "He didn't want to talk to me, he didn't want to be near me, he was distant," she said. "It felt weird. I just knew something." She also told the court her family was whisked away to Miami when the documentary was broadcast in the US. Later, she says, the family was coerced into making a video to rebut the documentary. She is set to be questioned on Friday by Mr Jackson's defence. 'Doll room' Prosecutors at the trial in Santa Maria have alleged the ranch housed a "private world" of alcohol and pornography. However, the videotape of the police raid did not show any of the sexually explicit magazines that the prosecution has said were found on the premises. The video was filmed by Santa Barbara county sheriff's department photographer Albert Lafferty, who talked the jury through its contents. It took the form of a tour of the Tudor-style mansion, including shots of a wood-panelled entrance hall, Mr Jackson's split-level master bedroom, and two rooms that investigators called the "doll room" and the "toy room". These contained dolls and figurines depicting characters such as Batman and Superman, the Star Wars robots and SpongeBob Squarepants. On Wednesday, prosecution witness Ann Kite, a publicist hired to rescue Mr Jackson's reputation, told the court that the singer became a victim of the aides who were supposed to serve him. Ms Kite said her task was to "crisis manage" the fallout from a TV documentary at the heart of the case, which she described as an "absolute disaster". BBC

Author:	Madeline [ 05 Mar 05, 22:04 ]
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5th of March 2005 Jackson was 'like father' to boy The abuse is alleged to have taken place at Jackson's Californian ranch The jury in Michael Jackson's child abuse trial has been shown a video in which the family of his accuser, Gavin Arvizo, call him a father figure. "He treats me like he's my father," Gavin says. His mother Janet denounces those who accuse the pop star. The prosecution alleges the family was coerced into making the tape, recorded in response to a controversial TV documentary that led to the charges. Mr Jackson, 46, denies 10 charges of child abuse and false imprisonment. If convicted, he could face up to 21 years in prison. But after a week of evidence, the pop star left court telling reporters: "It went very good." Sister 'admits' to lying After the video was screened, Gavin's sister Davellin returned to the witness stand at the trial in California to give evidence for a second day. She told prosecutor Tom Sneddon that she witnessed Mr Jackson "constantly hugging and kissing" her brother "on the cheek or the head". Gavin was the one who asked him, 'Can I call you daddy?' and he said, 'Of course'. She described how Gavin changed after spending time with Mr Jackson at his Neverland ranch. "He didn't want to be hugged, he didn't want to be kissed," she said. "It just hurt because I'm his older sister." On Thursday, she told the court that she saw the pop star drinking alcohol with Gavin and two other boys at the ranch. But under robust cross-examination from Mr Jackson's lawyer on Friday, Davellin said she had lied about certain things when questioned by the authorities on the allegations. The video shown in court on Friday was recorded on 19 and 20 February 2003, two weeks after the airing of Martin Bashir's film Living with Michael Jackson. It showed Gavin, his mother, his sister and his younger brother. In it, Janet Arvizo said: "Gavin was the one who asked him, 'Can I call you daddy?' and he said, 'Of course'." At another point, Gavin's brother Star said: "He actually seemed more fatherly than like our biological father." Janet Arvizo was also seen to say that people alleging a sexual relationship between Mr Jackson and her son were "missing out on something very beautiful that they have tainted". Gavin's sister Davellin alleged during her evidence on Thursday that the family had been coerced into making the video to rebut Mr Bashir's documentary. Also in Thursday's court session, she told the court of the time she spent with her family at the Neverland ranch after the documentary had been screened. She said her brothers spent most of their time away from her with Mr Jackson. On one occasion, she followed them into a wine cellar hidden behind a jukebox in a room full of toys, where she found her brothers drinking wine with the singer. But under cross-examination, she was pointed to an interview with investigators where she said she believed it was wine because they were in a wine cellar - but she had not seen Michael Jackson pour it, nor had she drunk any herself. The defence attorney inquired whether she had been coached to memorise her testimony, to which Davellin replied: "Nobody told me what to say." BBC

Author:	Madeline [ 08 Mar 05, 8:56 ]
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8th March 2005 Jury told Jackson groped brother SANTA MARIA, California (Reuters) - A 14-year-old boy has told jurors in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial that he twice saw the pop star ******** himself and groping his sleeping brother, the first testimony in the case that directly implicates Jackson of sex abuse. The boy, whose now 15-year-old brother made the accusations at the heart of the case against Jackson, said he witnessed the disturbing scene on two nights in February or March of 2003, while climbing stairs to the superstar's Neverland Valley Ranch bedroom. He said that on both occasions Jackson and his brother were lying on the 46-year-old performer's bed and his brother, then 13, was asleep. Jackson was not aware that he was on the stairs and peering through a railing, the boy testified. "Michael's left hand was in my brother's pants and his right hand was in his (own) pants," the boy said in describing the first night. "He was ********. He was rubbing himself." The boy, who was 12 at the time, said he watched for only a few seconds before leaving to spend the night with his sister in a Neverland guest cottage. On most nights, he said, he and his brother both slept in Jackson's room. The testimony could prove crucial to Santa Barbara County prosecutors as corroboration of the accusations against Jackson. The singer is also accused of giving the boy wine in order to abuse him and conspiring to commit false imprisonment, extortion and child abduction. Jackson, who has pleaded innocent, faces more than 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Defence lawyers say the sex abuse charges were dreamed up by the boy's mother in order to wrest money from Jackson. They have attacked the credibility of the entire family, citing their conflicting statements about Jackson on video and audiotape and similar accusations made by the mother against others. The accuser's brother, who spoke in a matter-of-fact tone and did not appear to make eye contact with Jackson in the courtroom, testified that once when he and his brother were watching a movie, "Michael walked up naked and picked up something. Me and my brother were grossed out. He told us it was natural." Asked if there was anything unusual about Jackson's genitals, the boy replied, "He had a hard-on." During the family's first visit to Neverland in 2000, the boy said, Jackson and an aide showed him and his brother pornography on the Internet while the pop star's young children, Paris Michael and Prince, slept on his bed. "A lady had her shirt up and (Jackson) said 'Got milk,'" the boy said. The boy said Jackson then leaned over to his sleeping son and told him was missing out on the pictures, using a vulgar reference to a woman's genitalia. He also said Jackson had a suitcase full of pornographic magazines that he would show the boys. The boy identified the black case when Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon showed it to him in court. Shown pictures of several magazines inside, the boy said they were among the magazines Jackson had in the case. The younger brother testified he and his brother drank wine with Jackson several times, and that the singer called it "Jesus Juice." On a private plane in 2003, he said Jackson "leaned over and handed me what I thought was Diet Coke. It tasted like the smell of rubbing alcohol. I asked what it was. He said it was wine." The boy said his brother felt sick on the flight and "leaned over on Michael's chest and I saw Michael's head licking the top of my brother's head. He was licking his head." During testimony, the boy also said the singer nicknamed him "Blowhole" and called his brother either "Apple Head" or "Doo Doo." His brother called Jackson "Daddy."yahoo

Author:	BBoop [ 08 Mar 05, 10:53 ]
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this makes me feel sick

Author:	Madeline [ 09 Mar 05, 1:44 ]
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8th March 2005 Jackson witness admits oath lie Michael Jackson arriving at court on Monday Michael Jackson denies the charges of child abuse The 14-year-old boy who told a court he saw Michael Jackson sexually molesting his older brother has admitted that he once lied under oath in court. Star Arvizo made the admission - about a separate case - as Mr Jackson's lawyers cross-examimed him on the seventh day of the trial in California. Lawyers also probed inconsistencies in evidence given to the court on Monday. Mr Jackson denies 10 charges of child abuse and false imprisonment. He faces up to 21 years in jail if convicted. During a half-day session on Tuesday, Star Arvizo was quizzed about a previous lawsuit his family brought against retail chain JC Penney. Star admitted he had lied under oath in that case, when he claimed his parents never fought and that his father never hit him. The defence team is seeking to portray Janet Arvizo - the mother of Mr Jackson's alleged victim Gavin Arvizo - as someone who encouraged her children to lie in order to bring false allegations. Inconsistencies Mr Jackson's lawyers also questioned Star Arvizo about an electronic alarm they say is fitted in the corridor approaching the singer's bedroom - where Star Arvizo alleges he walked in on the incidents. The boy admitted the electronic bell sounded both times but said it was not heard by either his brother or Michael Jackson. Mr Jackson's lawyer Tom Mesereau asserted that Star Arvizo's version of events had changed several times. The boy denied changing his story but said on numerous occasions that he could not remember what he had previously said. On Monday, he alleged he saw the singer fondle his brother while they stayed at the Neverland ranch. He also accused Mr Jackson of giving the brothers alcohol and showing them pornography. BBC

Author:	Madeline [ 09 Mar 05, 21:04 ]
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9th March 2005 Jackson lawyers tackle 'witness' Michael Jackson consults with a lawyer at court in California Jackson's lawyers have been trying to undermine his accusers Michael Jackson's lawyers are to continue their cross-examination of a boy who says he witnessed the pop star abusing his brother. The defence team is questioning Star Arvizo, 14, who told the court he twice saw Mr Jackson molest his older brother Gavin, who is now 15. Mr Jackson's publicist said the star was "hurt and embarrassed" by the "scurrilous and salacious" accusations. Mr Jackson denies 10 charges of child abuse and false imprisonment. He faces up to 21 years in jail if convicted. Star Arvizo was due to appear in the witness box for a third day on Wednesday. The Jackson team are portraying him as an unreliable witness who cannot be trusted. Publicist Raymone Bain said the boy's allegations were "all untrue". Pornography On Tuesday, Mr Jackson's lawyer Thomas Mesereau attempted to discredit the teenager's story in court. Under cross-examination, the youth admitted lying under oath in a separate legal case his family brought against retailer JC Penney five years ago. During that case, Star claimed his parents never fought and his father never hit him. In court in Santa Maria, California, on Tuesday, he admitted that was a lie, but could not recall why he did not tell the truth. Mr Mesereau said a pornographic magazine Mr Jackson allegedly showed the brothers was actually published months after the alleged abuse took place. The defence team is seeking to portray Janet Arvizo, the mother of Mr Jackson's alleged victim Gavin Arvizo, as someone who encouraged her children to lie in order to bring false allegations. BBC

Author:	Madeline [ 11 Mar 05, 8:41 ]
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10th March 2005 Jackson accuser tells of 'abuse' Michael Jackson arrives late at court Michael Jackson appeared to be in pain as he entered the court The teenage boy accusing Michael Jackson of sexually molesting him has been describing how and when the alleged abuse took place. Gavin Arvizo, 15, told the jury in Santa Maria that he was abused in the pop star's bedroom at his ranch. Mr Jackson arrived an hour late to his trial, wearing pyjamas and slippers and complaining of back pain. The angered judge had threatened to issue a warrant for his arrest unless he arrived within an hour. In a statement, Michael Jackson's defence said that Mr Jackson had been taken to a hospital for treatment for a severe back problem after tripping and falling over while getting dressed. 'Jesus Juice' Mr Jackson arrived at about 0938 (1738 GMT) on Thursday, looking frail as he walked gingerly into the courthouse in what appeared to be blue hospital-issue pyjama trousers as his supporters chanted "innocent". He denies 10 charges including child abuse and false imprisonment. He said not to tell anyone about the Jesus Juice and said this is like a testimony that we'll be friends forever If found guilty he could face a 21-year prison sentence. The jury is to have a day off on Friday as the court considers a number of motions relating to the case. Gavin Arvizo, a cancer survivor who was 13 when the abuse he alleges took place described in detail on Thursday how he was molested. He said he and Michael Jackson were in bed together and that, after asking the boy lots of questions about sex, Mr Jackson had put his hand down Gavin Arvizo's pyjama bottoms and touched him. The boy told the court that the experience felt weird and that Mr Jackson tried to comfort him as Gavin felt bad about it. Gavin also described how he had consumed various kinds of alcoholic drinks - including vodka, wine and brandy - with the star. Secret drinking He said they were frequently drunk from fizzy drinks cans. Describing his introduction to wine Gavin said, "He said, 'You know how Jesus drank wine, well, we call it Jesus Juice'." Gavin said he thought that the liquid he sipped tasted "ugly". He said that on one occasion after drinking alcohol with Mr Jackson, he had been given an expensive watch and told to keep their drinking secret. "He said not to tell anyone about the Jesus Juice and said this is like a testimony that we'll be friends forever". On Wednesday, Gavin told the court he had slept in Mr Jackson's bedroom where they watched internet pornography together. The boy said the singer had suggested that he spend the night at his Neverland Ranch, and get permission from his parents - which he did. BBC

Author:	Madeline [ 12 Mar 05, 12:23 ]
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BRITNEY Spears has strange advice for Michael Jackson. The 23-year-old reckons the superstar on trial for sexual abuse should grow some facial hair, get drunk and have a punch-up. "If he did do those things, I feel sorry for him. I feel like he probably feels alone, and he needs some help," she tells Allure magazine. "He needs someone to be like, 'OK, let's buck you up, let's give you a moustache, let's rough you up, let's go to a bar, let's get drunk and be a man.' "And if he didn't do those things, I feel sorry for him. Either way, he needs to get in a fight." Say what? Mirror

Author:	Madeline [ 14 Mar 05, 20:44 ]
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14th March 2005 Boy 'denied Jackson abused him' Michael Jackson gestures to supporters as he arrives at court Michael Jackson was taken to hospital with back pain last week The teenage boy who has accused Michael Jackson of sex abuse has admitted telling a former teacher he had never been molested by the US singer. Fifteen-year-old Gavin Arvizo returned to the stand for cross-examination by Mr Jackson's lawyers on Monday. Last week the court in Santa Maria, California, heard the boy's account of how the alleged abuse took place. The singer, who denies all charges, was in court for the first time since his late arrival last week with back pain. During intensive cross-examination by Mr Jackson's lead lawyer Thomas Mesereau, Gavin conceded he had told a former teacher that nothing inappropriate had happened between him and the singer. "I told [the teacher] he [Michael Jackson] didn't do anything to me," the teenager said. Hospital treatment The BBC's Daniella Relph in Santa Maria said the cross-examination - after new evidence emerged over the weekend - was some of the most aggressive questioning yet. Mr Jackson arrived on time for proceedings on Monday, wearing a red coat with a black arm band. On Thursday, the singer triggered a threat of arrest by the judge when he arrived late, wearing pyjamas and slippers. In a statement, Mr Jackson's defence said he had been taken to a hospital for treatment for a severe back problem after tripping and falling over while getting dressed. Later on Thursday, Gavin Arvizo described how and when the alleged abuse took place. He told the jury in Santa Maria that he was abused in the singer's bedroom at his ranch. The teenager said he and Mr Jackson were in bed together and that, after asking the boy lots of questions about sex, Mr Jackson had put his hand down Gavin's pyjama bottoms and touched him. He also described how he had consumed various kinds of alcoholic drinks - including vodka, wine and brandy - with the star. On Friday, the court heard legal arguments in which prosecutors sought access to Mr Jackson's financial records, claiming he has debts of $300m (£156m) and faces liabilities of $400m (£208m) by the end of the year. Mr Jackson denies 10 charges including child abuse and false imprisonment. If found guilty, he could face a 21-year prison sentence. BBC

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