Bashir takes the witness stand

Documentary-maker Martin Bashir was called to the witness stand yesterday.

Prosecutors called the journalist as their first witness and proceeded to play his documentary, Living With Michael Jackson, to the courtroom. They commented that it was this documentary and its hype that moved Jackson's camp to manipulate the accuser and his family into making positive statements about him.

Under cross-examination, Thomas Mesereau put it to Bashir that he had intentionally baited Jackson into making controversial statements, though Bashir avoided many questions by citing legal protection for journalists under state law and the US Constitution.

Upon leaving the courtroom after Bashir testified, Jackson told reporters that he was "angry".