What is Michael Jackson accused of?
Jackson faces 10 felony counts centred on allegations that he molested a 13-year-old leukaemia survivor in February 2003, gave the boy alcohol, and then conspired to hold his family captive. He denies the charges. The defence says it is about a gold-digging family with a history of making false accusations in exchange for lucrative out-of-court settlements. What does the prosecution say happened? Prosecutors claim Jackson showed the boy and his younger brother pornographic websites and magazines, gave them alcohol and wandered in front of them naked with an erection. The accuser’s younger brother testified that on two occasions he saw Jackson masturbating his brother. At the same time, the boy said, Jackson had the other hand down his underpants and was masturbating himself. After the broadcast of a documentary by British television journalist Martin Bashir, those around Jackson scrambled to repair his reputation, holding the accuser’s family captive and forcing them to participate in
