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April 01, 2005
Jury told of Jackson 'past abuse'
April 1, 2005 [BBC News]
Jurors in the Michael Jackson trial have heard for the first time about previous claims of child abuse against the singer from a key witness.
Larry Feldman, a lawyer who also represents the current accuser, spoke about a 1993 out-of-court payment made by Mr Jackson to an alleged victim.
But the court also heard investigators who had tested the star's bedsheets had found no DNA from his current accuser.
The star denies 10 charges, including child abuse and false imprisonment.
Also in court on Friday, an investigator defended the search of the singer's ranch.
Sgt Jeff Klapackis of Santa Barbara county sheriff's office answered claims by the defence that the 2003 search was overdone because Mr Jackson was a celebrity, saying that there was a high concentration of officers because they were only given one day to cover the whole ranch.
He also said it was unlikely his department had leaked news of the search to the press.
But he added that no traces of DNA from the current accuser, Gavin Arvizo, had been found in Michael Jackson's bed.
Both the accuser and his brother have claimed that they frequently slept in the bed.
'No lawsuit intended'
The judge had ruled on Monday that the jury could hear about five more boys the prosecution claim were sexually abused by the star.
Mr Feldman did not say how much the 1993 alleged victim had received in an out-of-court settlement, but said the matter had been "resolved in his favour".
Turning to the current case, he said the Arvizo family sought legal advice from him before alerting the authorities to abuse claims.
But the lawyer said he did not intend to file a civil lawsuit against Mr Jackson at that time.
He referred the family to psychologist Stan Katz, and then called prosecutors who later brought charges against the accused.
Mr Katz gave evidence in the trial earlier this week.
The psychologist also interviewed the 1993 alleged victim, and may be recalled to give further evidence when prosecutors start presenting testimony about previous allegations in three days' time.
Posted by Nancy at April 1, 2005 12:15 AM