US: The Michael Jackson trial entered a potentially critical phase yesterday as prosecutors prepared to introduce evidence of past allegations of child sexual molestation involving the 46-year-old singer.
About 50 fans, more than the usual number, dressed in white and holding a candlelit vigil, gathered outside the court to await the singer's arrival yesterday. On Sunday, a rally attended by about 200 fans heard a call from the singer, who told them over a speakerphone: "God and the truth are on our side. We will be victorious." Jackson spoke to fans from his Neverland ranch, telling them he wanted to be with them at Santa Maria's Radisson Hotel, where they took over a ballroom for the gathering.
"You understand I can't be there today," he was reported as saying. "I wish I could . . . I know you've travelled from around the world and I'm glad you came." His first words to the crowd were: "I love you." The crowd responded: "We love you."
Jackson, whose comments were limited because he is under a court gagging order, told the group: "I truly believe I have the most wonderful fans in the world. I'm looking forward to being with you very soon. Keep on dancing. I love you all very much."
In early evidence yesterday, the court heard from Jesus Salas, a former house manager at the Neverland ranch, who testified that he often saw Jackson drunk. "It was pretty much on a regular basis," he told the deputy district attorney, Gordon Auchincloss.
An attempt by the prosecution to confirm Jackson had served wine to the young boys in his bedroom was undermined when Mr Salas said that although he had delivered a bottle of wine to Jackson's bedroom when he was alone there with young boys, he had also brought soft drinks for the children.
But he did testify he had seen other children emerging drunk from Jackson's wine cellar at 8am accompanied by the singer.
In a further attempt to show that Jackson eroded the boundaries of decency around children, the court was shown photographs of erotic figurines the singer kept in his office.
The nine witnesses expected to be called by prosecutors will give evidence about five alleged instances of inappropriate sexual behaviour by Jackson. They include the son of a former maid at the ranch, who reached an out-of-court settlement with Jackson for two million dollars (€1.57 million) in 1993. The man, now in his 20s, is the only alleged victim expected to testify for the prosecution.
Two alleged victims of previous instances of child molestation by Jackson are expected to testify for the defence. They include the actor Macaulay Culkin, who became friends with Jackson when he was a child star.
Although prosecutors hope to introduce witnesses who will claim they saw evidence of Jackson molesting Culkin, he told an interviewer last year that there had been nothing inappropriate about the relationship and that no sexual contact took place.
The nine witnesses also include the mother of the alleged victim in another 1993 allegation, which Jackson settled for a reported $23 million (€17.9 million). That case was conducted by the district attorney prosecuting the singer in the current case. The settlement was reached before the case came to court. The alleged victim has refused to testify. - (Guardian Service)