Jackson accuser describes alleged molestation
Michael Jackson faced his young accuser wearing slippers and pyjamas today as the 15-year-old graphically described how he had twice been molested by the pop star.
The accuser said Jackson had abused him twice, masturbating him under the covers as they lay in the singer’s bedroom.
He said Jackson had asked him if he ever masturbated and when he said no, the pop star had offered to show him how.
“He told me that if men didn’t masturbate, they can get to a point where they might rape a girl or might become unstable,” he told Santa Maria court, California.
The accuser said he had been embarrassed as Jackson touched him. When he tried it a second time, about a day later, the teenager said he resisted Jackson’s attempt to place his hand on his genitals.
He said he ejaculated both times, although the defence team claims none of the teenager’s DNA was found in the room.
In an aggressive cross examination, Jackson’s lawyer Tom Mesereau accused him of making the whole thing up.
He also attacked his claim that Jackson done little for him while he had cancer.
Mesereau listed all the things the singer had done for the boy, how he had showered him with gifts, welcomed his family into Neverland for weeks at a time and calling him three times a week.
“Can you look this jury in the eye and say that Michael did nothing for you when you had cancer?” he asked.
“I didn’t say he did nothing,” the accuser replied.
As the pair clashed, Judge Rodney Melville interrupted, warning them to stop arguing.
The pivotal evidence came at the end of a dramatic day which began when a warrant was issued for Jackson’s arrest.
The singer caused havoc when he failed to arrive at court, having been rushed to hospital with “serious back pain”.
Judge Melville warned he would forfeit Jackson’s $3m (€2.23m) bail unless he got back to court in one hour.
His race against the clock failed and Jackson missed the deadline by several minutes, stepping gingerly from his car, looking unkempt and in some distress.
He hobbled into court wearing blue pyjama bottoms, slippers and a collarless white shirt.
But inside Judge Melville chose not to take further action and it was business as usual as court resumed some 90 minutes late.
During testimony, the teenager occasionally fixed Jackson in his gaze before turning away.
His account of the alleged sexual abuse contrasted with his brother’s, who claimed he had spied the pair lying on top of the covers and that his brother was asleep.
The accuser said Jackson had once shown him pornographic magazines for up to an hour.
He described how the pop star had suggested they hold hands on British journalist Martin Bashir’s documentary.
“I was really close to Michael and he was like my best friend. I just put my head on his shoulder,” he said.
The child claimed Jackson had invited him to Miami so they could be together to hold a news conference to respond to the documentary, which aired in February 2003.
During the flight Jackson gave him wine, which he called “Jesus juice,” in a Diet Coke can and said it would help him relax, he said.
“He told me not to tell anyone about the Jesus juice. He said that this is a symbol that we will be friends together," he told the court.
The accuser said he drank rum, vodka and whiskey when he was with Jackson, despite warning him that he only had one kidney as a result of his cancer.
The court was adjourned until tomorrow. There will be no more testimony in the case until Monday.
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