Jackson 'too ill' to testify in court

Rex Features

Michael Jackson's lawyer has said the popstar is too ill to travel to London to testify in a £4.7 million lawsuit being heard at the High Court.

Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, son of the King of Bahrain, claims that Jackson reneged on a recording and entertainment project. Jackson is now seeking to give testimony by video link, AP reports.

"It would be unwise for him to travel, given what's he's got now," Robert Englehart said, although he declined to elaborate on the illness "for the obvious reasons".

However, Al Khalifa's lawyer Bankim Thanki said that the medical evidence presented by Jackson's legal team was "very unsatisfactory" and Jackson's condition could be treated with a bandage.

Judge Nigel Sweeny said he would decide the matter on Thursday to allow time for medical experts on both legal teams to talk.