US: A comedian who befriended the family accusing Michael Jackson of sexual abuse said yesterday she received a "very disturbing" phone call in 2003 that led her to believe the family was being held against its will.
Louise Palanker, who gave the family $20,000 while the boy at the centre of Jackson's trial was being treated for cancer, testified she got a call from the boy's mother shortly after a damaging television documentary about the singer was aired in February 2003.
The pop star was seen holding hands with his young accuser in the documentary while defending his practice of sharing his bed with young boys at his Neverland ranch in central California.
Palanker's testimony, on the fourth week of the sensational trial followed around the world, went to the heart of charges that Jackson conspired to commit child abduction, extortion and false imprisonment.
The singer is also accused of sexually abusing the then 13-year-old boy at Neverland in February or March of 2003 and plying the youth with alcohol in order to molest him. He has pleaded not guilty and faces 20 years if convicted on all counts.
The singer, whose dazed condition on Monday again sparked speculation about his mental and physical health, appeared in better spirits yesterday.
Palanker testified that after seeing the Jackson documentary on TV she tried unsuccessfully to contact the boy's family.
A few days later she got a frightened call from the boy's mother. "She was extremely agitated. She was almost whispering. She may have been crying at some point in the conversation," Palanker testified.
"She was very frightened. This was fear-based agitation. It was an extremely disturbing phone call," Palanker added.
She said the mother urged her not to call back, saying "This is not a safe line, they are listening. These people are evil, they are keeping us." Palanker said she was so concerned she called a lawyer. "I felt they were being held against their will," she said.
Jackson's lawyers, who say the pop star was the victim of a scam by a scheming, manipulative mother, said in opening statements that Palanker was also exploited.