Jackson trial begins
Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial began in earnest today with the judge reading the indictment to the jury in advance of opening statements in which prosecution and defence lawyers were to outline their cases.
Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville also told the court in Santa Maria, California, he would give some instructions to the jurors, who are to decide whether Jackson molested a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland ranch.
Jackson arrived at court on a drizzly morning with a throng of news media watching.
But there was no big crowd of fans, just a handful outside and about a dozen in the courtroom. Two people demonstrated outside in support of the prosecution.
Both sides have compelling stories to tell, but the credibility of the boy, now 15, and his family likely will determine the outcome.
