Jackson defence hammers at past accusations

SANTA MARIA - The mothers and sisters of two young men at the centre of Michael Jackson's child molestation case came to his defence today, telling jurors they considered the pop icon beyond reproach and never questioned his practice of sleeping with children.

The defence testimony came a day after Wade Robson and Brett Barnes, who were were portrayed by prosecutors as adolescent victims of Jackson in the 1990s, denied the 46-year-old superstar molested them.

All four women, family members of Robson and Barnes, said Jackson spent many nights sleeping alone with the boys at Neverland Valley Ranch and elsewhere, but said they never considered that behavior inappropriate.

"I've known Michael a long time," Robson's mother, Joy, said under questioning from lead Jackson attorney Tom Mesereau.

"I know him very well. I've spent many hours talking to him. I feel like he's a member of my family. I trust him. I trust him with my children."

She added that she considers Jackson unique and "a very special person".

"He's not the boy next door. He's Michael Jackson. ... He's very pure in his love for children. To know him is to love him and trust him," Robson said.

The women were effusive and at times appeared almost star-struck as they praised Jackson in glowing terms. Prosecutors suggested on cross-examination that they had been blinded by his wealth and fame.

"You are positively thrilled to be friends with Michael Jackson," deputy district attorney Gordon Auchincloss pointed out to Karlee Barnes, sister of Brett. "You seem to be almost giddy about it."

"I love him with all my heart," the young woman said.

Robson, now 22, was an aspiring dancer from Australia who Jackson took under his wing, casting the boy in commercials and music videos. He went on to gain fame as a choreographer for Britney Spears and 'NSYNC and hosted a dance programme on MTV.

Barnes, 23, quit his job as a roulette dealer in Australia to travel to California and take the witness stand for Jackson. Both families have stayed at Neverland during their testimony.

Though Jackson's lawyers have spent the first two days of their case battling accusations that he molested Robson and Barnes in the 1990s, the pop star is not charged with any misconduct involving them.

He is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2003 after plying him with alcohol and conspiring to imprison him and his family at Neverland. The singer could face two decades in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors were allowed to introduce past accusations of sexual misconduct by Jackson involving Robson, Barnes, Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin and two other boys under an unusual California law governing evidence in sex abuse cases.

All four women described Jackson as a close friend who never gave a hint of impropriety toward the boys and treated their families with great generosity and kindness.

Prosecutors turned that testimony against them on cross-examination, suggesting Jackson's behavior fit a pattern of luring families in with lavish gifts and his superstar persona and then molesting their boys.

The questions turned deeply personal at times. Auchincloss pressed Chantal Robson about her decision to sleep in the same bed with the then-35-year-old Jackson when she was 10 and asked her if she slept with any other older men as a girl.

Chantal Robson said she trusted Jackson totally, though she conceded she would "have to re-evaluate that" if she learned that he were plying a boy with alcohol and pornography.

- REUTERS