Jackson arrives at court
2005-01-31 19:08
Santa Maria - Embattled pop star Michael Jackson arrived at court on Monday for the official start of his trial on charges of child molestation.
Jackson, clad all in white and wearing dark sunglasses, waved at a screaming crowd of fans as he arrived at the courtroom in the small California town of Santa Maria ahead of jury selection in the trial.
The pop icon stepped out of a black sports utility vehicle at 08:50 (16:50 GMT) and took shelter under a signature black umbrella.
The star was accompanied by only a coterie of aides including his chief lawyer Thomas Mesereau, but not by members of his famous musical family who had turned up with him at earlier hearings.
Fans hemmed in by security barriers also shouted "Give 'em hell Mesereau" and "Let's go, let's go," as Jackson and his attorney began the 20m walk to the door of the court.
He flashed a two-fingered peace sign at the fans before going through a metal detector and other security checks.
At 09:19 (17:19 GMT) the "King of Pop" strode into the courtroom at took his seat between the silver-maned former boxer Mesereau and fellow defence lawyer Robert Sanger behind the defendant's table. <>
Chief prosecutor Thomas Sneddon, who has driven the prosecution against Jackson since it first exploded onto the world stage 14 months ago, was not in court.
As Jackson and the teams of rival lawyers waited for Judge Rodney Melville to enter the courtroom and officially launch the trial, about 100 people lined up in front of the metal detector outside.
Jackson has denied 10 charges, including child sex abuse against a 13-year-old boy and alleged plots to kidnap, falsely imprison and extort the teenager and his family, which could see him jailed for up to 20 years.