Judges refuse to throw out charges against Jacko

A California judge has denied a bid by Michael Jackson's lawyers to throw out the child molestation charges against the pop star or delay his trial by several months.

Jackson's lawyers argued that a grand jury indictment should be dismissed because of "outrageous government conduct" by the chief prosecutor, whom they claimed was engaged in a personal witch-hunt against Jackson.

The defence team also argued in a separate motion that they needed more time to go through about 22,000 pages of evidence.

Santa Maria Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville rejected both arguments, saying a delay in the trial, scheduled to start on January 31, would amount to "a huge step backwards".

Jackson, 46, has pleaded not guilty to charges of lewd behaviour with a young boy at his Neverland Valley Ranch.