World News 11-03-2005 Bananas in Pyjamas who: Michael Jackson what: Faces his teenage accuser in court for the first time where: Santa Maria, California when: Wednesday snippet: There was unexpected drama in the already sensation-filled trial of Michael Jackson on Thursday, says The Independent, "when the pop star, who faces charges of molesting a minor, failed to turn up at the court at the appointed hour and the judge threatened to revoke his $3m (£1.6m) bail and put him behind bars." When he eventually arrived at the court in Santa Maria, California, the singer - who usually looks frail at best - was still wearing pyjama trousers and shuffled from his car on the arm of a burly bodyguard looking barely strong enough to stand. Lawyer Thomas Mesereau "told the court Mr Jackson was being treated for a serious back problem at a Santa Barbara hospital," says The Guardian. "Mr Jackson`s health has already delayed proceedings by one week when he was taken to hospital for flu at the start of jury selection. However, he has arrived on time or early since then." On Monday, 14 year-old Star Arvizo, the brother of the boy alleged to have been molested, took the stand and said he had twice caught Michael Jackson "performing a sexual act on himself and Gavin Arvizo," says The Telegraph phrased it. "He had his left hand in my brother`s pants," Star said. "His right hand was in his pants." Presecutor Tom Sneddon asked what Jackson was doing. "Masturbating," Star replied. The following day, Mesereau cross-examined Star on the subject of a law suit the Arvizo family had taken out against retail chain JC Penney. The boy admitted he had lied on oath in that case. When asked why he lied, he replied only: "I don`t remember. It was five years ago. I don`t remember nothing." On Wednesday, much was made in the media of Jackson coming face to face with his accuser, who was in court for the first time. Over the course of two days in court, Gavin Arvizo, aged 15, testified that - with his parents` consent - he and his brother had been invited to sleep in Jackson`s bedroom on their first visit to the Neverland ranch when Gavin was 13 and suffering from cancer. Nearby, Jackson`s aide, Frank Tyson, had been looking at adult websites and Jackson made lascivious remarks to the children about the women in the photographs. He claimed Jackson had given him wine, vodka and brandy, which he called Jesus Juice, and masturbated him. And on the subject of Martin Bashir`s documentary, Living With Michael Jackson, Arvizo said he had been coached by Jackson on what to say. "He told me to say he helped me," says Gavin Arvizo, "and that he pretty much cured me of cancer." [... more]

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