TRIAL OF THE CENTURY JACKO: GIVE ME MY DAY IN COURT.(News)

Byline: ANTHONY HARWOOD US Editor in New York

MICHAEL Jackson yesterday pleaded for a fair hearing on the eve of his trial for child sex abuse.

In a video on his website, pop icon Jackson, 46, attacked information released recently as "disgusting and false" and vowed he would walk free.

His statement, approved by the court in Santa Maria, California, said: "Keep an open mind and let me have my day in court.

"I deserve a fair trial like every other American citizen. I will be acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told."

Graphic details of grand jury testimony were leaked earlier this month to news organisations despite efforts by the judge, Rodney Melville, to keep the transcript secret.

Jackson faces up to 21 years in jail if convicted but jury selection could last a month and the trial itself a further five.

Here's what you need to know about The People of California vs Michael Jackson.

THE DEFENDANT

FATHER of three Michael Jackson - arguably the world's most famous celebrity.

THE ACCUSER

GAVIN Arvizo, now 15. As a 10-year-old he was ill with cancer and put Jackson on a wish-list of people he'd like to meet. Jackson invited him and his family to his Neverland ranch where he claims the abuse took place.

THE CHARGES

JACKSON faces a 10-count indictment alleging he gave Arvizo alcohol, touched him and plotted to force the boy and his family into taping a video saying the star had done nothing wrong. The singer denies all charges.

THE JUDGE

NO-NONSENSE Rodney Melville. He has been a judge since 1987. Before that he was a private lawyer and a prosecutor.

THE PROSECUTION

DISTRICTAttorney Tom Sneddon says Jackson is a

a textbook paedophile who used alcohol to seduce and abuse his victim. He will claim he used a combination of porn, explicit sex talk and alcohol to put his victim in the mood, and will present to the jury a stash of "erotic material" including 32 magazines, 17 books, two DVDs as well as computer images.

THE DEFENCE

LAWYER Thomas Mesereau says the alleged victim is a liar, his parents are greedy and the prosecution is out to get the singer. He will refer to a pounds 110,000 claim against the shop J.C. Penney in 2001 in which Gavin's mother Janet claimed guards beat her kids and sexually assaulted her.

THE WITNESSES

FOR the prosecution: Gavin, his younger brother and Janet. The boys will testify Jackson plied Gavin with alcohol before molesting him. Businessman Terry George, psychotherapist Dr Stan Katz, former BBC documentary maker Martin Bashir, whose film on Jackson triggered the probe, and Stand By Me star Cory Feldman.

For the defence: Neverland guests Wade Robson and Macaulay Culkin, Mark Lester and Chris Tucker, a character witness for the star.

CAPTION(S):

COURT BATTLE: Gavin Arvizo, right, claims Michael Jackson abused him

TRIAL OF THE CENTURY JACKO: GIVE ME MY DAY IN COURT.(News)

Byline: ANTHONY HARWOOD US Editor in New York

MICHAEL Jackson yesterday pleaded for a fair hearing on the eve of his trial for child sex abuse.

In a video on his website, pop icon Jackson, 46, attacked information released recently as "disgusting and false" and vowed he would walk free.

His statement, approved by the court in Santa Maria, California, said: "Keep an open mind and let me have my day in court.

"I deserve a fair trial like every other American citizen. I will be acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told."

Graphic details of grand jury testimony were leaked earlier this month to news organisations despite efforts by the judge, Rodney Melville, to keep the transcript secret.

Jackson faces up to 21 years in jail if convicted but jury selection could last a month and the trial itself a further five.

Here's what you need to know about The People of California vs Michael Jackson.

THE DEFENDANT

FATHER of three Michael Jackson - arguably the world's most famous celebrity.

THE ACCUSER

GAVIN Arvizo, now 15. As a 10-year-old he was ill with cancer and put Jackson on a wish-list of people he'd like to meet. Jackson invited him and his family to his Neverland ranch where he claims the abuse took place.

THE CHARGES

JACKSON faces a 10-count indictment alleging he gave Arvizo alcohol, touched him and plotted to force the boy and his family into taping a video saying the star had done nothing wrong. The singer denies all charges.

THE JUDGE

NO-NONSENSE Rodney Melville. He has been a judge since 1987. Before that he was a private lawyer and a prosecutor.

THE PROSECUTION

DISTRICTAttorney Tom Sneddon says Jackson is a

a textbook paedophile who used alcohol to seduce and abuse his victim. He will claim he used a combination of porn, explicit sex talk and alcohol to put his victim in the mood, and will present to the jury a stash of "erotic material" including 32 magazines, 17 books, two DVDs as well as computer images.

THE DEFENCE

LAWYER Thomas Mesereau says the alleged victim is a liar, his parents are greedy and the prosecution is out to get the singer. He will refer to a pounds 110,000 claim against the shop J.C. Penney in 2001 in which Gavin's mother Janet claimed guards beat her kids and sexually assaulted her.

THE WITNESSES

FOR the prosecution: Gavin, his younger brother and Janet. The boys will testify Jackson plied Gavin with alcohol before molesting him. Businessman Terry George, psychotherapist Dr Stan Katz, former BBC documentary maker Martin Bashir, whose film on Jackson triggered the probe, and Stand By Me star Cory Feldman.

For the defence: Neverland guests Wade Robson and Macaulay Culkin, Mark Lester and Chris Tucker, a character witness for the star.

CAPTION(S):

COURT BATTLE: Gavin Arvizo, right, claims Michael Jackson abused him