Jackson leaves court in tears

2005-03-21 23:44

Santa Maria - Michael Jackson's child sex trial took another dramatic turn on Monday when the embattled star shuffled into court late, only to be led out again apparently ill and weeping.

The globally-scrutinised trial was delayed by 45 minutes as rival lawyers and a doctor from a local hospital huddled in chambers with trial Judge Rodney Melville, as the tardy Jackson repaired to a court bathroom.

The latest bizarre courtroom drama starring the faded "King of Pop" came less than two weeks after he narrowly escaped arrest after turning up more than an hour late, wearing his pyjamas and slippers.

A frail and distressed-looking Jackson, his hair uncombed, arrived at court just as the proceedings were due to begin and hobbled slowly into court with the help of his brother Jackie and an aide.

After he took his seat about five minutes late, a doctor from a local hospital - wearing medical scrubs under a baseball-type jacket - walked into court and was beckoned over by a trembling Jackson.

Sobbing

The singer, holding a paper handkerchief in front of his mouth and dabbing his upper lip with it, had his back to the court but appeared to be sobbing.

Seconds later, the star, wearing a blue-violet jacket and his hair apparently uncombed, was helped out of the courtroom and led to a bathroom by his brother and a bodyguard.

The doctor then joined Jackson's lawyer Thomas Mesereau and prosecutor Tom Sneddon in Judge Rodney Melville's chambers for a meeting that lasted about 10 minutes.

After the meeting, Jackson, who court sources said had been in the bathroom, shuffled back into the courtroom to take his seat.

When the proceedings finally got under way about three-quarters of an hour late, Judge Melville called the court to order but offered no explanation for the bizarre interlude.

Jackson's late appearance in court was his third since being arrested for child sex abuse in November 2003.

On March 10, he arrived more than an hour late after being rushed to a hospital emergency room after tripping while dressing for court, causing a delay and infuriating the judge who issued a warrant for his arrest.

Cross-examination

Mesereau immediately resumed his cross examination of a detective, Konn Able, who was involved in a search of Jackson's Neverland Ranch, where he is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy two years ago.

Mesereau grilled the detective about surveillance equipment seized at Neverland, which the defence insists was a part of the ranch's general security arrangements. Prosecutors suggest that Jackson used it to spy on his guests.

As the child sex trial headed to a fourth week of testimony, jurors are expected to hear from a psychologist and a lawyer who were among the first to interview the boy, now 15, who claims Jackson fondled him at least twice in 2003.

- AFP