Michael Jackson calls pre-trial leaks 'false'

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson has called recent leaks to the media about his child molestation case "malicious ... disgusting and false," and said he expects to be found innocent of the charges.

In a short video appearance on his official website Jackson rejected accusations that he plied a now 15-year-old boy with alcohol and fondled him.

"In the last few weeks, a large amount of ugly, malicious information has been released into the media about me.

"Apparently, this information was leaked through transcripts in a grand jury proceeding where neither my lawyers, nor I, ever appeared. The information is disgusting and false," Jackson said on Sunday.

Grand jury testimony is secret and not publicly released, though often leaked to the media.

Dissemination of Jackson's latest statement had been approved by state Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville, who had previously placed a gag order on the case. Strict secrecy has been imposed on the case and any statements made by either party must be approved in advance by the judge.

Jury selection in the case starts Monday with some 750 prospective jurors reporting for duty at the Santa Maria courthouse. The jurors will be summoned by Melville in groups of 150 over three days and will likely come face-to-face with Jackson, who has pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing the boy at his Neverland Valley Ranch.



Opening statements are weeks away, but Jackson's presence at the courthouse is expected to draw hundreds of fans and reporters. Melville will try to assemble a pool of possible jurors able to serve for up to six months.

Jury pool members will then be given seven-page questionnaires about the case and told to return on February 7 to be questioned individually by Melville, prosecutors and defence attorneys. At that point a final panel of 12 jurors and eight alternates will be chosen.

A grand jury handed down a 10-count indictment against Jackson in April that charged him with lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 and conspiring to commit the crimes of abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

In his videotaped statement Jackson, 46, said that he had invited the then 13-year-old cancer victim and his family to Neverland "because they told me their son was ill with cancer and needed my help. Through the years, I have helped thousands of children who were ill or in distress".

Jackson, appearing in a shiny turquoise shirt with an open collar against a gray background, looked straight into the camera for the brief, minute-long speech.

He said the events surrounding the case "have caused a nightmare for my family, my children and me. I never intend to place myself in so vulnerable a position again".

"I love my community and I have great faith in our justice system. Please keep an open mind and let me have my day in court. I deserve a fair trial like every other American citizen. I will be acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told," Jackson said.

- REUTERS