Cross-Examination Resumes of Michael Jackson's Accuser; Quizzed on Similar Statements

Michael Jackson's attorney challenged the credibility of the pop star's accuser Monday by cross-examining him about similarities between a statement he testified Jackson made and a statement the boy had attributed to his grandmother. Cross-examination of the 15-year-old who claims Jackson molested him resumed after a three-day break in testimony. Mr. Jackson arrived on time Monday. This time, Jackson was wearing a bright red sport coat with a black armband. He exited his SUV and walked into the courthouse with his father, Joe, on one side and his mother, Katherine, on the other. He acknowledged chanting fans by turning, waving and flashing a V-sign. Jurors went home last week following a combative and tense exchange between the pop star's accuser and defense attorney and were expected to see more of the same this week. On Thursday, after Mr. Jackson arrived late to court, Mesereau alleged inconsistencies in the boy's interviews with law enforcement and said the molestation claim was invented after a meeting with a lawyer. "After you met with an attorney you came up with a story that you were masturbated by Michael Jackson," Mesereau said. "No, I never told him about anything," the boy said, referring to the lawyer. The accuser testified that Jackson twice molested him in Jackson's bed at Neverland Ranch as he and the singer wore pairs of Jackson's pajamas, with the first incident occurring under a blanket. The teen said he believed there were more incidents, but that he couldn't remember them. That testimony differed from his brother's claimed eyewitness account and it was unclear if they were talking about the same incidents a potential problem for prosecutors. Also under cross-examination last week, the accuser, a cancer survivor, said he felt Jackson had not paid as much attention to him as he wanted. "I didn't see him much," the boy said. "He was my best friend in the world and my best friend was trying to avoid me when I had cancer."