BREAKING NEWS

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BREAKING NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT. Cont'd.

Grand jury indicts Mr Jackson: report

'Big lie'

Mr Jackson has dismissed the accusations as "a big lie" aimed at extorting money from him. The statement issued by the singer's legal team on Thursday said: "Mr Jackson and his attorneys are confident that after a trial on these charges, Mr Jackson will be fully exonerated and that the allegations contained in the indictment will be shown to be patently false." "Michael is looking forward to his day in court and wishes to thank the millions of fans throughout the world who continue to support him during this difficult period," the statement added. The BBC's Peter Bowes in Los Angeles says it is believed that the alleged victim may have been among the witnesses to testify before the grand jury during its closed-door 13-day hearing. Mr Jackson is now expected to appear in court on 30 April to be charged formally and enter a plea.

Details of Mr Jackson charges leaked

US broadcaster ABC has revealed details of what it says is a police report on child abuse allegations against entertainer Michael Jackson.

It quotes a psychologist's interview with the two boys at the centre of the case which has still to go to trial. Mr Jackson allegedly twice gave one boy so much wine he passed out and then touched him in an "inappropriate manner", ABC reports. The US singer denies the abuse charges brought against him in December. He was charged in California with seven counts of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 and two counts of plying the boy with alcohol in order to seduce him at his Neverland ranch. He is accused of molesting a boy, who is identified in court papers only as John Doe, between 7 February and 10 March 2003. Psychologist Stan Katz interviewed the alleged 12-year-old victim and his nine-year-old brother at the request of the family's lawyer, and the notes were passed to Santa Barbara police for their report.

'Suggestive mannequin'

According to ABC's revelations on Tuesday, the elder boy, a cancer-sufferer, cried when asked about the alleged molestation and it was mainly the younger brother who gave the psychologist details of what allegedly happened. According to the leaked report:

The 45-year-old pop star reportedly gave the elder boy wine to drink and on at least two occasions the child passed out
He reportedly touched the boy inappropriately after he had passed out
He reportedly surfed the internet on a laptop computer with the boy to find images of naked women and asked him to tell people, if they asked, that they had been watching The Simpsons
Jackson once stood in front of them naked for a moment, as they were watching TV," Mr Katz was quoted as saying
Mr Jackson reportedly played with a mannequin of an 8- or 9-year-old girl in a sexually suggestive manner in front of both boys. The pop star has dismissed the allegations against him as a "big lie".
A court session has been set for 30 April to determine if a preliminary hearing date for a trial should be scheduled.

End of the article.