Feeble Jackson arrives late to court
SANTA MARIA: A feeble-looking Michael Jackson arrived late again Monday to his child molestation trial after another hospital visit, but the judge took no apparent action. The pop star then sat through testimony from a psychologist who asserted few child sex abuse allegations turn out to be false. Jackson, who is said to have back problems, trembled and wept at the defense table as lawyers and a doctor who came to court in hospital scrubs conferred in chambers with Judge Rodney S Melville. The judge, who previously threatened to arrest Jackson and revoke his bail when he was late on March 10, gave no explanation of what was discussed and ordered testimony to resume. Jackson spokeswoman Raymone K Bain said in a statement that Jackson was en route to court when he suffered intolerable back spasms and was taken to Cottage Hospital in Santa Ynez. The facility, about 35 miles from the courthouse, is the same one where Jackson sought treatment in March, also reportedly for his back. — AP