Showbiz
Michael Jackson pleaded with a mother to let him sleep with her teenage son, the court heard today.
The mother, whose son was central to 1993 molestation allegations against the star, testified that he spent weeks at their home during which he asked to be allowed to sleep with the boy, then 13.
After granting the request, she received a Cartier gold bracelet from the singer.
The alleged victim stopped speaking to authorities about the matter after receiving a $23m settlement in 1993 and is not listed as a witness in the current child molestation trial.
The mother described how the star and her son met at the office her ex-husband's car rental business, leading from a telephone relationship to family invitations to Jackson's Neverland Ranch and for Jackson to visit their Santa Monica home.
When staying at their home he apparently slept in the boy's room, generally leaving the house when the boy went to school, not to be seen until his return. After becoming concerned about their relationship, the mother confronted Jackson.
She told the court: "(He) was spending too much time with Mr. Jackson. I was getting upset. (He) didn't want to be with us. He was sullen," she testified. "He (Jackson) was upset that I wanted my son back. I didn't like the situation. It was getting out of hand."
The mother, whose son was central to 1993 molestation allegations against the star, testified that he spent weeks at their home during which he asked to be allowed to sleep with the boy, then 13.
After granting the request, she received a Cartier gold bracelet from the singer.
The alleged victim stopped speaking to authorities about the matter after receiving a $23m settlement in 1993 and is not listed as a witness in the current child molestation trial.
The mother described how the star and her son met at the office her ex-husband's car rental business, leading from a telephone relationship to family invitations to Jackson's Neverland Ranch and for Jackson to visit their Santa Monica home.
When staying at their home he apparently slept in the boy's room, generally leaving the house when the boy went to school, not to be seen until his return. After becoming concerned about their relationship, the mother confronted Jackson.
She told the court: "(He) was spending too much time with Mr. Jackson. I was getting upset. (He) didn't want to be with us. He was sullen," she testified. "He (Jackson) was upset that I wanted my son back. I didn't like the situation. It was getting out of hand."
More: Showbiz, Jackson on Trial
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