Jackson accusers to be named

2005-02-28 19:35

Pop star Michael Jackson arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria, California, for his trial for alleged child molestation. (Ed Souza, AP)

Santa Maria - The long-protected identities of Michael Jackson's now 15-year-old child molestation accuser and his family are to be made public, prosecutor Tom Sneddon told Jackson's trial jury.

Sneddon made the revelation at the start of long-awaited opening arguments in the trial of one of the most famous defendants of all time.

Earlier, trial Judge Rodney Melville unveiled for the first time details of the charges against Jackson.

Before opening statements in the trial began, Melville read the nine-page indictment that accused Jackson of sexually molesting a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland Ranch between February 3 and March 3 2003.

- AFP