Michael Jackson on Tuesday came face to face with the prosecutor who has pursued him on child molestation charges for more than 10 years.
The singer made a rare courtroom appearance to watch a pre-trial hearing in Santa Maria, California, during which district attorney Tom Sneddon was in the witness stand.
Jackson’s defence has accused him of overstepping legal bounds during his investigation.
The two men share a long and bitter history. Sneddon filed charges against Jackson in 1993 based on the claims of a 13-year-old boy, allegations that were eventually settled out of court.
During the 1993 investigation, the prosecutor forced Jackson into a strip search to see if he matched the boy’s description. The singer in return wrote a thinly disguised attack on Sneddon in a song.
Jackson was met by dozens of screaming fans when he arrived at the court.
Flanked by minders and walking under an umbrella to shield him against the sunlight, he was dressed in a white suit with his trademark gold armband and large reflective sunglasses.
His sisters Janet and LaToya and his brother Jermaine followed him into the court, also dressed in white in an apparent display of solidarity. His parents were also present.
”It’s a face-off between Jackson and Sneddon,” said Laurie Levenson, a Loyola University law professor and former federal prosecutor.
”Emotionally, it’s a big moment in the case. This is high drama.”
Jackson has pleaded not guilty to charges of committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction. He is free on $3-million bail.
The singer’s defence lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr, was due to question Sneddon about his actions in the weeks before the current charges were filed last November.
The defence is arguing that Sneddon breached attorney-client privilege between Jackson and his previous lawyer.
The district attorney allegedly conducted surveillance of the office of a private investigator, Bradley Miller, who was working for the singer’s former lawyer.
If the judge finds in favour of the defence it could prompt a motion to dismiss the charges against Jackson entirely.
Santa Barbara county sheriff’s officials have already testified that they used a sledgehammer to break into Miller’s office and seize videotapes and files related to the case.
The defence is trying to suppress any evidence seized during the raid.
The materials seized are said to include a videotape of Jackson’s 12-year-old accuser and his family, in which they praise the singer.
Prosecutors claim the tape was made under duress and the family was being held prisoner at Jackson’s Neverland ranch. It is a central piece of evidence in the prosecution’s case. – Guardian Unlimited Â