Jackson accuser not to be called 'victim'

Jackson's defence lawyers have requested that the star's accuser and his family not be referred to as 'victims' in court as this would violate his right to a fair trial.

Similarly, his lawyers take offence at the District Attorney stating that he and his deputies represent "the people."

In a nine-page motion Jackson's lawyers wrote: "The issue for the jury to decide is whether the complaining witnesses are 'victims' (the District Attorney's theory) or whether the complaining witnesses are lying and/or mistaken (the defence theory).

"The prosecution, court personnel and the state's witnesses should not be allowed to characterize the complaining witnesses as 'victims' before the jury has had a chance to decide the ultimate question of whether they are victims."

In response to potentially damaging leaked testimony given by his accuser, Judge Rodney Melville has allowed Jackson to make a televised statement to Fox News to have his say. However, network officials say they have not yet decided how the recorded material about his "personal life and family relationships" will be aired.