SHOTLIST:

APTN - APTN CLIENTS ONLY

Santa Maria, California - 27 February 2005

1. Wide shot of courthouse

2. Wide shot of camera, trucks and barricades set up near courthouse

3. Wide shot of satellite trucks parked outside courthouse

US POOL - APTN Clients Only

FILE - Santa Maria, California - 25 February 2005

4. Michael Jackson stepping out of car

5. Wide shot of Jackson walking to courthouse, fans yelling "Michael, We love you"

6. Jackson accompanied by aides holding umbrellas, Jackson yells "I love you more" to fans

APTN - APTN CLIENTS ONLY

Santa Maria, California - 27 February 2005

7. Wide shot of tarp being put up around courthouse fence

8. Various shots of worker putting up tarp around courthouse

9. Wide shot of courthouse complex with barricades lining the street

10. Wide pan of Big Red Tours bus sitting across from courthouse

11. Medium pan of bus operator standing on top of second deck

12. Medium shot of Big Red Tours bus

13. Close up of license plate that says "Lon Bus"

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Phil Collins, Tour Bus Operator:

"This whole trial is definitely helping the area as far as Santa Maria, local businesses will be probably feeling the benefits of all the generated interest in this small town and it can only help us all. It''s kind of sad that we are doing it on the back of someone else''s misery but celebrities put themselves in these positions, its kind of the territory they are in."

US POOL - APTN Clients Only

FILE - Santa Maria, California 25 February 2005

15. Jackson passing through metal detector

16. Lead prosecutor Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon arriving at court

STORYLINE:

Preparations were underway in Santa Maria, California on Sunday for the start of the Michael Jackson child molestation trial.

Prosecution and defence lawyers were to begin outlining their cases to the jury on Monday.

Television crews and city workers were busy in and around the courthouse.

Residents of Santa Maria were bracing themselves for months of media attention from around the world.

Some said they would appreciate the economic boost when hordes of reporters and Jackson fans pack hotels and restaurants, but others said they could live without all the commotion.

Michael Jackson is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy, plying him with alcohol, and conspiring to hold him and his family captive.

Jury selection had been expected to last several weeks, but took only five court days, while the selection of the alternates could be completed as early as Sunday, allowing the trial to proceed.

The jury in Michael Jackson''s child molestation trial includes several fans of his music, four parents of young children, a woman whose grandson was convicted of a sexual offence, and a man who visited Jackson''s Neverland ranch as a child.

Drawn from the county where Jackson lives, the four men and eight women range in age from 20 to 79.

The jury seated on Wednesday was primarily white and Hispanic and did not appear to include any of the half-dozen blacks who were in the pool of more than 240 prospects.

Experts said the trial may boil down to the credibility of two people: Jackson and the accuser''s mother.

Both sides have compelling stories to tell.

Prosecutors were to depict a poor family whose stricken son wanted to meet his idol.

They will say that the dream became a nightmare of abuse and imprisonment at Jackson''s Neverland Ranch.

The defence was to describe Jackson as the target of a money-hungry mother, who coached her son to spin stories for profit.

Jackson''s defence will try to show that the boy''s mother has sued others in the past claiming abuse.

SHOTLIST:

1. Black SUV pulling up outside courthouse

2. Pop icon Michael Jackson getting out of car

3. Various of Jackson waving to fans and then walking into courthouse, surrounded by body guards and shielded by black umbrella

4. High shot of Jackson walking into court

5. Various of Jackson walking through security inside court entrance

6. Jackson being checked by security guard using a metal detector wand

7. Jackson walking past security

8. Jackson's attorney - Thomas Mesereau Jr (white hair) - following him into court

9. Shots of Jackson supporters cheering on the other side of a fence near the courthouse

10. Pan from supporters holding signs to Jackson look-alike

11. Another shot of Jackson look-alike doing a TV interview

12. Close shot of sign reading "France Supports...M.J."

13. Shot of Spanish and British flags

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Liddy Champo, Jackson Fan:

"I've been a fan since childhood, he's always impacted my life in some way. Yeah, from a child it was just like the general, he's the structure of your whole moral status. He teaches you the right things to do in life, the right path to take and he's basically the foundation of who I am today. It's all based on Michael."

15. Close shot of sign reading "England supports you Michael"

16. Wide shot of Ann Scott and granddaughter holding sign

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ann Scott, Jackson Fan:

"All I can say is innocent until proven guilty. And we love his music. And it was well worth all the money. We travelled to San Francisco and then to here, hopefully for my granddaughter to see him personally."

18. Media satellite trucks outside courthouse

19. Shot of press gathered outside courthouse

20. Reporter interviewing Debra Opri

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Debra Opri, Attorney Representing Jackson Family:

"I have faith in the citizens of Santa Maria, I have faith in the citizens of Santa Barbara county. I believe they will do the right thing and they will properly evaluate the evidence and in the end, I think it's going to look good for Michael Jackson. People should wait until everything is presented."

22. Jackson waves to crowd just after getting out of car

STORYLINE:

Pop star Michael Jackson arrived for the start of his child-molestation trial Monday, greeted by a crowd of fans shouting encouragement who pressed against fences to see the pop star.

Jackson, wearing white and shielded by an umbrella, waved to supporters as he walked into the courthouse.

After more than an hour's wait, Jackson and his attorney stood and faced the first group of prospective jurors filing into the courtroom.

During the hours before Jackson's arrival, fans danced and sang a Jackson song deriding the district attorney, and they booed a woman who held a sign backing the alleged victim, a 13-year-old boy. Many had spent the night outside the little courthouse.

Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting a cancer patient - then age 13, now 15 - and plying him with alcohol. Early Sunday, Jackson issued a

court-approved video statement on his Web site, predicting he would be acquitted.

On Monday, Jackson spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said the pop star's "spirits are great," and shot down rumours that he had been suicidal.

Jackson is being prosecuted by Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, 61, whom Jackson has derided in song as a "cold man" with a vendetta.

A child-molestation case Sneddon tried to build against Jackson 10 years ago fell apart when the singer's accuser reportedly accepted a multimillion-dollar civil settlement and refused to testify in any criminal case.

The challenge facing the court is not to find jurors ignorant of the case but to find those who say they can put aside everything they have heard and

look at the evidence as if they had heard nothing.

The referee is Melville, 63, a veteran of the bench who has refused to tolerate tardiness or even, in one case, a bathroom break for the defendant.

At the final pretrial hearing Friday, Melville made it clear that he won't abide lawyers attacking each other and that the gag order stands.

Earlier this month, the 1,900-page transcript of the case prosecutors presented to the grand jury that indicted Jackson was leaked to thesmokinggun.com and ABC News.

Among other things, the transcript included the accuser's testimony that Jackson closed his eyes tightly while molesting him on a bed, and that the

pop star ignored the child's warnings that he shouldn't drink alcohol because of his medical condition.

More than 1,000 applications for media access have been submitted, some of them from as far away as Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Canada and Mexico.

MICHAEL JACKSON ESTATE SLAMS ABC TV SPECIAL ON HIS LAST DAYS

The Michael Jackson estate is objecting to an ABC TV special airing Thursday (24MAY2018) on the end of the life of the late King of Pop, calling it a crass attempt to exploit Jackson without respect for his legacy or children.

The estate said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday that ``The Last Days of Michael Jackson'' is not sponsored or approved by Jackson's heirs, and will most likely violate their intellectual property rights.

Advertising for the two-hour documentary set to air Thursday night says it will reveal new information on Jackson, and focuses on his apparent decline in the run-up to his death at age 50 on June 25, 2009.

``We believe the special to be another crass and unauthorized attempt to exploit the life, music and image of Michael Jackson without respect for Michael's legacy, intellectual property rights or his children,'' the estate's statement says.

Representatives for ABC owner Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The estate said ABC was using a copyrighted silhouette and photo to promote the special, but stopped after demands from Jackson attorneys.

The estate said it understands the show other intellectual property without permission, including music, photos and artwork.

``It is particularly disheartening that Disney, a company known to strongly believe in protecting its own IP rights, would choose to ignore these rights belonging to the Estate,'' the statement said.

Jackson died in 2009 of ``acute propofol intoxication.'' The superstar had been taking the prescription anesthetic as a sleep aid during preparations for a series of comeback concerts called ``This Is It.''

Former cardiologist Conrad Murray was convicted in 2011 of giving Jackson a fatal dose of the drug. He served two years in in jail for causing Jackson's 2009 death. Murray's conviction was upheld in 2014.

++4:3 MATERIAL++

FILE: Santa Maria, CA, 10 March 2005

1. Michael Jackson arrives at courthouse wearing pyjamas during child molestation case

2. Michael Jackson enters courthouse

++4:3 MATERIAL++

Santa Maria, CA, March 2005

3. Michael Jackson at Santa Maria, CA courthouse

++4:3 MATERIAL++

Santa Maria, CA, March 2005

4. Various, Michael Jackson at Santa Maria, CA courthouse

FILE: Santa Barbara County, 5 May 2005

5. Choreographer Wade Robson arrives for court, with unidentified woman and a member of Jackson's entourage holding an umberella, to provide defence testimony in Jackson's trial on charges of child molestation.

FILE: Santa Barbara County, 5 May 2005

6. Choreographer Wade Robson is escorted into courthouse by a member of Michael Jackson's security force to provide defence testimony in Jackson's trial on charges of child molestation.

++4:3 MATERIAL++

FILE: Los Olivos, California, 1 July 2009

7. Various shots of aerials of Neverland Ranch

++4:3 MATERIAL++

FILE: Los Olivos, California, 2 July 2009

8. Tracking shot as Gates to Neverland Ranch open

9. Pan from statue of children to exterior of house

10. Close-up custom Neverland clock face

11. Pan of Michael Jackon's empty bedroom

12. Tilt up locks on Jackson's bedroom door

13. Closet next to Jackson's bedroom and door leading to secret room where Jackson stored personal belongings

++4:3 MATERIAL++

FILE: Japan, 4 March 2007

14. Various Michael Jackson greeted by fans in Japan

SHOTLIST

APTN

Santa Maria, California - February 28, 2005

1. Mid shot of Michael Jackson turning and waving to people outside courthouse

2. Mid shot of Jackson supporters holding placards outside courthouse

3. Mid shot of supporters holding banner

4. Wide shot of Jackson waving to people outside courthouse

POOL

Santa Maria, California - April 27, 2005

5. Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe walking into court

POOL

Santa Maria, California - April 5, 2005

6. Close shot of prosecutor Tom Sneddon walking through metal detector toward courtroom

7. Close shot of Jackson lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr. walking through metal detector toward courtroom

APTN

Los Angeles, California - April 26, 2005

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Stan Goldman, legal analyst, Loyola University Law School:

"I don't think the prosecution has one of the world's strongest cases here when it comes to the actual complaining witness and his family. What makes it a reasonably strong case at this point is the evidence of prior events. You've got to prove two things in effect, if you're the prosecution: Michael Jackson is a paedophile and he acted out with this boy. If you can prove he's a paedophile based on other cases, you've done about two thirds of the heavy lifting already."

POOL

Santa Maria, California - March 9, 2005

9. Close shot of Jackson gesturing to people outside courthouse

APTN

Santa Maria, California - February 28, 2005

10. Court sketch, wide shot of prosecutor Sneddon (far left), Judge Rodney Melville (top centre), and Michael Jackson (far right)/pan to Jackson and Mesereau

11. Court sketch, close shot of Sneddon

APTN

Santa Maria, California - March 1, 2005

12. Mid shot of TV journalist Martin Bashir (centre) arriving at courthouse

13. Mid shot of photographer

POOL

Santa Maria, California - April 19, 2005

14. Mid shot of accuser's mother (covered by coat) passing through metal detector toward courthouse

POOL

Santa Maria, California - March 10, 2005

15. Court sketch close shot of accuser on witness stand

16. Court sketch close shot of Jackson

17. Court sketch mid shot of Judge Melville and Jackson lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr

18. Court sketch close shot of Melville

19. Court sketch close shot of accuser

APTN

Los Angeles - April 26, 2005

20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jean Rosenbluth, legal analyst, University of Southern California:

"I think what the prosecution has going for it in this case is just sheer weight of evidence and it's going to be the... where there's smoke there's fire and there's so much stuff that's been thrown at the jury that perhaps they're just going to think 'gee, I'm not going to sort through all of this something must be going on'."

APTN

Los Angeles - April 6, 2005

21. Close shot of Mesereau and Jackson arriving at event

22. Close shot of photographers

POOL

Santa Maria, California - March 10, 2005

23. Close shot of Jackson in pyjama bottoms, tilt up to Jackson arriving at court house, pull out to wide of Jackson being helped by aides.

APTN

Los Angeles - April 26, 2005

24. SOUNDBITE: (English) Stan Goldman, legal analyst, Loyola University Law School:

"I don't know how much saving of Michael Jackson's character you can do in this case. Sure, you can put him on, the way he (Mesereau) seems to have promised the jury he will do. You can make the jury feel that Michael Jackson has a completely different character with all sorts of witnesses. But in the end, what you really have to do is convince the jury that there is a reasonable doubt that he did what he's charged with."

POOL

Santa Maria, California - March 10, 2005

25. Close shot of Jackson walking through metal detector toward courtroom

DEFENCE PREPARES TO SAVE STAR FROM JAIL

The child abuse trial of superstar Michael Jackson - dubbed the trial of the century - has reached the half-way point, after nearly three months of courtroom drama in the small California town of Santa Maria.

The prosecuting team in the Michael Jackson child molestation case had planned to rest its case on Tuesday, but it remained unclear whether that deadline was on track.

As the prosecution sought to wrap up its presentation, it called final witnesses and presented more phone records in hopes of bolstering the conspiracy portion of their case against the pop star.

Prosecutors had initially hoped to rest its case last week.

But after Jackson's ex-wife Deborah Rowe delivered a startling setback in her testimony on Thursday, they needed more time to recoup their losses and orchestrate a strong finish.

In a stinging turn for the prosecution, Rowe testified that Jackson was easily manipulated by "opportunistic vultures" in his inner circle who wanted to make millions from his troubles.

Rowe was called by prosecutors to bolster a charge that the singer and his associates conspired to hold the accuser's family captive to make a video praising Jackson.

District Attorney Tom Sneddon had said Rowe would tell the jury her remarks in the video were scripted, and that Jackson strong-armed her into appearing in the video by promising her visitation with their kids.

But the strategy backfired when Rowe turned the tables on prosecutors, denying her remarks were scripted or rehearsed, and portraying Jackson as a "wonderful person" and "a great father."

The 46-year-old Jackson is accused of molesting a 13-year-old cancer patient in February or March 2003, and giving him alcohol.

Prosecutors also allege that Jackson conspired to hold the accuser's family captive to get them to rebut the "Living with Michael Jackson" documentary, in which the singer said he lets children sleep in his bed.

Jackson denies all 10 charges against him, including child abuse.

They began their case in late February, and brought forward their first key witness - British journalist Martin Bashir - on the first day of March.

Prosecutors won a victory of sorts in March when Judge Rodney Melville allowed past allegations against the singer to be used as evidence in the trial.

That move opened the door for testimony from witnesses who alleged prior acts of molestation before the 2003 incident in which Jackson is charged.

Some analysts say the prior allegations could still prove to be key in convincing the jury of a pattern of abusive behaviour on the part of Jackson.

As prosecutors in the Jackson trial wrap their case, the defence prepares to counter weeks of testimony, including that from witnesses who testified to alleged prior acts of molestation by Jackson.

The defence is likely to call on a host of celebrities to testify to the singer's good character and possibly even Jackson, himself.

Some analysts, again, note that Jackson's character is not on trial, and that defence attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. must convince the jury there is reasonable doubt as to the charges against him.

SHOTLIST:

23 mins approx

1. Sit down interview with Uri Geller. Including soundbites:

"I believe that Michael Jackson is innocent for various reasons, first of all it is inconceivable for me to accept or believe or suspect that he molested a child. I can not believe that he has done that."

"I actually hypnotized Michael he said lets give it a try and I took him in to a deep hypnosis. I gave him affirmations about something totally different that I wont go in to and then I did something highly unethical from my side and I simply asked him about those first allegations, which were the only things I knew about, and Michael under hypnosis told me that nothing of the nature happened. To me that was enough to totally except him and love him as a friend and for me that says everything. I have never spoken about this before but I think it's about time for me to say this."

"I believe that this case will crumble. I believe that the mother will at some stage through depositions will admit that she manipulated her child to lie. This is obviously totally my opinion."

"Michael Jackson has an incredible store of strength of him. What Michael Jackson can do and I hope he will do it lock on to the positive energies that his fans send him. The millions of people who love Michael Jackson project towards him. It's almost like a tangible energy, a force, it's consciousness. In think that will pull him through. He also has his family who stand by him. He has a few good friends and he is a strong person."

"I believe that Michael Jackson simply lives in his own world, a child's worlds. He is 45 years old but in heart, spirit, mind and soul he is still a kid living in a body of a 45 year old. He doesn't understand that the outside world finds it suspicious when you invite children to sleep in your bedroom. He believes that he gives unconditional love to kids and this is a problem. Even when he was on that documentary with Martin Bashir he was sitting holding a child's hand. Now come on, if he had anything to hide, would he do that."

"I as a father would not send my children to anyone's bedroom to sleep over night. It's just not acceptable, not even to Michael Jackson's bedroom, although I know that he would not do anything bad to them but it's just not right and that's what Michael doesn't understand. He can't decipher the feelings and the notions and the general outcry of people when they hear that he behaves that way. That was one of the things that I told him twice."

"He thinks that he can anything and maybe that is where he went wrong and I hope that he will grow up and I hope that very soon he will be found innocent and the world will have to have a look again and say what have we done to this man and why."

USED FOR STORIES # : 406821

TAPE FORMAT: PAL SX

SHOTLIST:

1. Pan view of cars arriving

2. Mid view of supporters and protesters shouting

3. Close up pan Jackson and family walking into court house

4. Close up Jackson and family walk into court waiting room

5. Mid view of people outside of court house

6. Close up Jackson goes through metal detector into court room

7. Mid view prosecution witness and former Jackson employee Adrian McManus walking into court

8. Pan view of Jackson's attorney Tom Mesereau Jnr. walking into court

9. Close-up pan of Jackson, leaning on employee, walking out of court house

10. Pan view as cars drive away

FORMER MAID TELLS COURT SHE USED MEDIA BROKER TO SELL STORIES

Michael Jackson's former maid testified at his child molestation trial on Friday that she and other employees used a "media broker" to sell stories to tabloids, including one claiming inside knowledge of Jackson's sex life with ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley.

Adrian McManus had earlier testified for the prosecution that she saw Jackson in compromising positions with boys.

On Friday she insisted under cross-examination that she was not out to get Jackson's money even when she and four other Neverland employees sued him for millions.

Speaking of a wrongful-termination lawsuit, which backfired and resulted in a large judgment against the plaintiffs, McManus said she wanted justice.

Jackson attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr. asked: "But your idea of justice was millions of bucks?"

In reply she said an apology would have been enough for her.

Jackson is on trial on charges of molesting a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland ranch.

The prosecution is presenting evidence, much of it from former Jackson employees, that the crime was part of a pattern of inappropriate behaviour by the pop star with boys.

Mesereau has used the ex-employees' legal battles with Jackson and the sale of stories to tabloids to attack their credibility.

Before the trial went into recess for the weekend, prosecutors presented another ex-employee - 70 year old Phillip LeMarque.

In his testimony, he said he was delivering an order of french fries to Jackson at Neverland's arcade late one night and saw the singer holding "Home Alone" actor Macaulay Culkin up to a video game console with one hand on the boy's waist and the other in the boy's shorts.

The defence has asserted that Culkin has repeatedly said he was never molested, and a spokeswoman for the actor has said he has no plans to be part of the case.

Under defence questioning, LeMarque said he and his wife, a cook, sued Jackson for unpaid overtime and received a settlement.

LeMarque said he quit because his wife was asked to sign a false affidavit saying she saw a former maid go through people's purses.

That ex-maid, whose son received a financial settlement from Jackson in the 1990s after he alleged molestation, testified this week that she once found Jackson showering with a boy.

SHOTLIST

1. Mid shot of gate to studio where Michael Jackson had been recording video

2. Wide shot studio

3. Mid shot of Jackson fans outside studio, holding signs supporting him

4. Close up of sign held by Jackson fan

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donna Green, Michael Jackson fan

"I don't care what anyone says, I still don't believe it. I know in my heart that it's not true. People that are judging him, they don't know him, they don't know him. They just know what they see in the tabloids or, you know, on TV."

6. Tilt up from sign to Donna Green standing with boy

7. SOUNDBITE (English) VOXPOP, Jackson fan

"Why would he do that? He's helping kids, you know, give them their dreams, oh, they want to meet Michael Jackson, you know, dying kids and stuff and that's like people's biggest dreams, you know. I know I would love to meet him and everything and why would he ruin himself like that? There's no reason, it's not right."

8. Various of Jackson fans listening to news conference on portable radio

9. Various of news media outside studio

10. Michael Jackson impersonator driving up in cart singing

11. Close up of Jackson impersonator doing impromptu impersonation

STORYLINE

Fans of Michael Jackson on Wednesday expressed support for the singer after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of molesting a child.

The 45-year-old King of Pop was accused of multiple counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14.

Jackson's spokesman called the allegations "scurrilous and totally unfounded", a view echoed by some of the singer's fans outside a Las Vegas studio, where he had been working on a new music video as recently as Tuesday.

They held signs showing their support and stated their belief in his innocence.

In the 10 years since Michael Jackson first stood accused of child molestation, the superstar has managed to eke out two platinum albums, a handful of hits and some highly rated television specials.

Yet his fan base has shrunk and he's been ridiculed and reviled by the general public for his bizarre appearance and behaviour.

His new single "One More Chance", released as the latest scandal erupted, didn't even register on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Music industry analysts predict his imminent arrest on another molestation allegation could be the final nail in the coffin of his career.

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide zoom out of exterior of Los Angeles Superior Court building

2. Michael Jackson's siblings, Randy and Rebbie Jackson, getting out of car and walking through media scrum to courthouse

3. Randy and Rebbie Jackson entering courthouse

4. Michael Jackson's criminal lawyer, Thomas A. Mesereau Jr, walking in street

5. Wide of Mesereau speaking to reporters

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael A. Mesereau Jr., Lawyer:

"I am on the plaintiff's witness list. I am here because the defence, AEG, is threatening to bring in evidence that Michael Jackson was charged with child molestation. I was his late criminal defence lawyer in his criminal trial and he was exonerated of every single charge. He was completely cleared of any child molest allegation, and I think it's a mistake for the defence to bring that in. If they do, I am going to be called to the witness stand to discount them."

7. Cutaway of Mesereau in street

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael A. Mesereau Jr., Lawyer:

"Well, I think the momentum is with Katherine Jackson and Michael's (Jackson) beautiful children. I think AEG has an uphill battle. Those emails are very damaging. They show there was an employment relationship. They show they were putting pressure on Conrad Murray to make him perform, and I think they're going to have a tough time getting out of that. I think the absolute momentum is with Katherine Jackson and Michael's children."

9. Cutaway of Mesereau speaking to reporters

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael A. Mesereau Jr., Lawyer:

(Reporter: ...the fact that they are also listed on as potential witnesses along with Conrad Murray)

"Well, they are the plaintiffs, they're the ones suing. But the question is what was Michael Jackson's life worth to his mother? What was Michael Jackson's life worth to his three beautiful children? It was worth a lot."

(Reporter: The chances of Conrad Murray actually stepping into that courtroom?)

"I don't think Conrad Murray will ever say a word. I think his convictions are on appeal. I think his lawyer will probably advise him to keep his mouth shut, and he better not sing a song like he did the other day because he looks like an absolute maniac."

11. Wide of Dr Conrad Murray's lawyer, Valerie Wass, entering courthouse

STORYLINE:

Opening statements in Katherine Jackson's wrongful death case against concert promoter AEG Live began in a Los Angeles courthouse on Monday morning.

A jury of six men and six women will determine whether AEG Live should pay Michael Jackson's mother and three children after his 2009 death from an overdose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol.

Katherine Jackson sued AEG Live in September 2010 - claiming it failed to properly investigate doctor Conrad Murray before allowing him to treat Jackson as he prepared for his "This Is It" shows.

Jackson is also suing on behalf of her son's three children - Prince, Paris and Blanket.

Millions and possibly billions of dollars in damages are at stake in a case that opened with private photos and video clips of the late star dancing.

A lawyer representing his mother told the jury that AEG Live owed a duty to properly investigate Murray.

AEG denies that it hired Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.

Its lawyers have said the company could not have foreseen the circumstances that led to the singer's death at age 50.

They have also said that the singer's guarded private life meant the company was unaware that he was using propofol.

Thomas A. Mesereau Jr. - a lawyer who represented Jackson when he was charged with child molestation - has been called as one of Katherine Jackson's witnesses.

"I am here because the defence, AEG, is threatening to bring in evidence that Michael Jackson was charged with child molestation," he explained.

"He was completely cleared of any child molest allegation, and I think it's a mistake for the defence to bring that in," Mesereau added.

"If they do, I am going to be called to the witness stand to discount them."

He also argued that AEG Live faces an "uphill battle" because emails appear to show that the company was "putting pressure on Conrad Murray to make him perform, and I think they are going to have a tough time getting out of that."

Mesereau also said he thinks Murray is unlikely to testify at trial.

"I think his convictions are on appeal," he explained. "I think his lawyer will probably advise him to keep his mouth shut."

Jackson's mother, brother Randy and sister Rebbie sat in the front row of the courtroom on Monday.

A lawyer for AEG Live was expected to begin addressing the panel later in the day.

SHOTLIST:

1. Jackson''s lawyer Thomas Mesereau (with long white hair) and various officials getting out of car

2. Michael Jackson getting out of car, fans shouting to Jackson AUDIO: "We love you, we believe in you. "

3. Jackson walking under umbrella towards court building, talking to fans AUDIO(Jackson): "Thank you, I love you more."

4. Jackson entering court building with lawyer

5. Jackson walking through metal detector, being searched by security with metal detector, entering courtroom

6. Lead prosecutor Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon entering court room

JACKO: TRIAL BEGINS ON MONDAY

Jurors in Michael Jackson''s child molestation trial will be allowed to hear evidence that the accuser''s mother had made allegations of improper touching against store security guards, a judge ruled Friday.

Attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. made the allegations during motions on whether evidence could be admitted about the family''s lawsuit against J.C. Penney.

The family claimed in a lawsuit that they were beaten by guards and held against their will and that the mother was groped, after Jackson''s young accuser left the store with clothes that had not been paid for.

Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville said he will allow testimony about the case, especially as it pertains to the mother''s credibility. But he said the defence would not be allowed to refer to the boy as a shoplifter.

Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old former cancer patient at his Neverland ranch, plying him with alcohol, and conspiring to hold him and his family captive.

Mesereau said that after the mother received a $150,000 settlement from J.C. Penney and Tower Records, another defendant in the case, she immediately accused her husband of abusing her and filed for divorce.

The woman then accused her ex-husband of inappropriately touching her daughter, Mesereau said.

The attorney also said the woman testified in the J.C. Penney case that her husband had never hit her, but alleged in her divorce that he had beaten his family for years. That was perjury, Mesereau said.

Mesereau also said the mother had her son ask celebrities for money and spent some of the funds on cosmetic surgery.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen argued that the issue was how the mother acquired the money, not what she spent it on and that the issue was largely irrelevant.

Opening statements in the case are scheduled to begin Monday.

Jury selection for the trial was completed Thursday when four men and four women were sworn in as alternates who would step in if there is a problem with any of the 12 regular jurors chosen earlier in the week.

The jury is mostly white and Hispanic; the alternate panel includes one black man.

Jury selection had been expected to last several weeks, but was completed Thursday, the sixth court day. There were two week-long breaks in the process because of the death of an attorney''s sister and Jackson''s hospitalization with flu-like symptoms.

Also Friday, prosecutors said they would show the documentary called ''Living with Michael Jackson,'' in which the singer is shown holding hands with his accuser and saying he allowed children to sleep in his bed, but not for any sexual purpose.

Both sides also agreed to meet Saturday for a joint interview with a former attorney who represented the alleged victim''s mother. What the attorney might talk about was not disclosed.

SHOTLIST:

1. Various shots of Michael Jackson leaving courthouse

2. Jackson walks to motorcade

3. Jackson gets inside the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)

4. Jackson motorcade departs

STORYLINE:

The defence in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial on Monday painted the mother of his accuser as a welfare cheat who exploited her son's cancer to get money and lived lavishly at Jackson's expense at a time she claims she was a captive.

The defence effectively put the mother on trial, calling witnesses to show a history of money schemes and her angry rejection of anyone who sought to help her with anything but cash.

The mother's former sister-in-law said her efforts to hold blood drives when the accuser was ill with cancer were dismissed by the mother, who called her and used profanity to denounce her.

"She told me that she didn't need my (expletive) blood," said the former sister-in-law, bursting into tears, "that she needed money."

The defence, seeking to show that Jackson was another target of such schemes, called a flurry of witnesses as it neared the end of its case.

Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in February or March 2003, giving him alcohol and conspiring to hold the family captive to get them to rebut a documentary in which the boy appeared with Jackson, who said he let children sleep in his bed but it was non-sexual.

The defence also called a welfare worker who said the mother fraudulently did not disclose on a welfare application that her family received funds from a $152,000 lawsuit settlement just 10 days earlier, and an accountant who showed the family racked up $7,000 in shopping, dining and other expenses paid by Jackson during a week of their alleged captivity.

SHOTLIST

1. Katherine Jackson, Joe Jackson, and Michael Jackson exit black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)

2. Various of Michael Jackson and entourage walking toward courthouse

3. Jackson family walking into waiting room

4. Jackson and family walk through metal detectors and into courtroom

5. Jackson's brother is checked by security and enters courtroom

STORYLINE

The judge in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial decided on Wednesday not to change an instruction that would allow jurors to find Jackson guilty of a misdemeanour count of giving alcohol to a minor.

The decision came as the prosecution and defence argued for a second day over what should be included in the jury instructions, which were expected to be read to the panel later on Wednesday.

Closing arguments are set to begin on Thursday and the jury is expected to get the case Friday.

Opening statements in the trial started on February 28.

An indictment accuses Jackson of giving alcohol to his accuser in order to commit felony molestation.

But Judge Rodney S. Melville decided on Tuesday that the alcohol allegation could be a "lesser included offence," meaning jurors may consider convicting Jackson of simply providing alcohol to the boy.

The defence revisited the issue on Wednesday and tried to get the instruction removed, but Melville did not change his mind.

Also on Tuesday, Melville approved an instruction involving the TV documentary "Living With Michael Jackson," in which Jackson's future accuser appeared with the pop star and in which Jackson said he allowed children to sleep in his bed in an innocent, non-sexual way.

The judge said he was willing to tell jurors the video was "not offered for the truth of what is said except for certain identified passages."

Melville said jurors would be told the rest of the video should be considered hearsay.

The passages he referred to were not specified in open court.

46-year-old Jackson is charged with molesting a 13-year-old in February or March 2003, giving him wine and conspiring to hold his family captive to get them to rebut damaging aspects of the documentary.

SHOTLIST

1. Wide shot of walkway to court

2. Michael Jackson exits the van

3. Various of Jackson walking into court with his mother; waves to fans

4. Interior court, Jackson walking through metal detector

5. Various of lead defence attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. walking into court

6. Actor Chris Tucker, star of the film "Rush Hour", entering through metal detector inside the court

STORYLINE

The defence rested in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial Wednesday without putting the pop star on the stand, wrapping up after a surprisingly short three weeks devoted mostly to portraying the accuser's mother as a shakedown artist.

Singer Michael Jackson appeared in the Santa Maria court again on Wednesday but did not take the stand in his child molestation trial, leaving jurors with only the singer's videotaped statements about what happened behind Neverland's closed doors.

Jackson has declined to discuss the decision not to testify, but the odds of Jackson's testifying were considered remote from the outset.

However, jurors did hear from Jackson when his attorneys played nearly three hours of videotaped interviews with the entertainer in which he talked about his feelings for children, which he said were innocent and loving.

Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting the boy in February or March 2003 when the youth was 13.

He is also charged with giving the teenager alcohol and conspiring to hold his family captive to get them to rebut a documentary in which the boy appeared. Jackson said he let children into his bed for innocent, nonsexual sleepovers.

"Rush Hour" star Chris Tucker - who resumed testimony on Wednesday - was the final defence witness.

Tucker on Wednesday testified that during the time he befriended Jackson's young accuser he found the boy to be unusually sophisticated and cunning child.

Tucker said the boy repeatedly asked for gifts but that he forgave him because he knew he had battled cancer and had family problems.

The actor and comedian had testified Tuesday that he met Jackson's accuser at a benefit while the boy was battling cancer in 2000.

Tucker said that a few days after the benefit the boy told him it hadn't made any money, so he wired "probably 1,500 US dollars or more" to a foundation for the family.

Defence attorneys put Tucker on the stand to bolster their argument that the boy and his family have a history of targeting celebrities for money.

After Tucker finished testifying, the defence was expected to formally rest its case.

Prosecutors will begin a rebuttal that is expected to last at least a day.

Jackson's attorneys will then be given an opportunity to respond, followed by closing arguments, which probably won't begin before next week.

SHOTLIST

1. Car arrives at court house

2. Jackson and entourage exit car

3. Jackson walks towards courthouse, waves to supporters, enters courthouse

4. Prosecutor Tom Sneddon passes through security and enters into court

5. Mother of alleged victim escorted into court, covering her face with jacket

6. Jackson passes through security and walks into court

STORYLINE:

The mother of Michael Jackson's teenage accuser testified on Thursday that she was sad and confused when she appeared in a video to praise the pop star as a father figure.

Prosecutors contend the woman and her family made the video under duress and that Jackson associates wanted them to do it to rebut a television documentary that had aired about two weeks earlier.

In the TV show, Jackson was seen with the boy and said he allowed children to sleep in his bed but that it was innocent.

The woman said she was given a script to follow and that during the video shoot she was read scripted questions.

She took the witness stand for a second day running on Thursday as the child molestation trial of Jackson continues.

The day before, Judge Rodney S. Melville allowed her to testify despite her refusal to discuss alleged welfare fraud - an issue on which the defence had hoped to attack her credibility.

She invoked the Fifth Amendment (an amendment to the Constitution of the United States that imposes restrictions on the government's prosecution of persons accused of crimes) to avoid questions about it.

46-year-old Jackson is accused of molesting a 13-year-old former cancer patient, plying the boy with alcohol, and holding his family captive in February and March 2003 to get them to help rebut a damaging documentary.

The boy's mother said following the broadcast of the documentary showing Jackson and her children, the pop star convinced her in a "lovey-dovey speech" that her children were in danger, that there were "killers" after them, and that he was the only one who could protect them.

She also testified that she saw Jackson lick her son's head during a February 2003 flight from Miami to California on a private jet.

Defence attorneys have raised questions about the woman's credibility by accusing her in opening statements of swindling other celebrities and committing welfare fraud.

Jackson denies all the charges against him.

SHOTLIST

Santa Maria, California - 8 June 2005

1. Wide view of courthouse

2. Woman holding poster

3. Fans outside courthouse

4. Man holding up T-shirt

5. White T-shirt - pan to man with T-shirts

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Davy, Michael Jackson fan and T-shirt salesman:

"I come out here and give him more support and brought out the shirts. That way, more of his fans can cheer him on, you know. Go work for Michael, you know what I mean. 'Cause I guess they mention yesterday, some people, I guess the Michael haters or something came out yesterday, so bro goes, 'good Davy, good you brought your shirts, and we'll get all the supporters. So, its going to be a busy day."

7. Fans outside courthouse

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Marjorie, Michael Jackson fan:

"And, last night, I was watching TV and I heard that one of the jurors has rights to a book and that's not fair. It's not fair to Michael Jackson, it's not fair at all. And, I heard Judge Melville threatened the jurors, keep all the notebooks. And that still isn't fair to Michael Jackson, they'll be making money off of him. Why should they be able to do that? When I was on a jury I was told after the case is over the books go back to the court and they get destroyed."

9. Reverend Jesse Jackson

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jesse Jackson, spiritual advisor to Michael Jackson:

"Michael has confidence in this jury and even in its make-up. He has confidence in the effectiveness in his lawyers arguments, Tom Mesereau, and how he's accusers, upon cross examination, always came out weak and wiltered, along with the stench of some money trail. That, we believe, if this jury uses reasonable doubt as its standard, he will be acquitted."

11. Man holding anti-jackson placard

12. Placard

13. UPSOUND: "If you think that's an opinion woman, you're going to Hell, possibly with Michael Jackson, if you don't recognise Jesus as King of all Kings."

16. Michael Jackson fans

17. Man with placard

STORYLINE:

Jurors in Michael Jackson's trial returned to court Wednesday for more deliberations on the child molestation charges

that could send the pop star to prison.

The jurors arrived on Wednesday morning and headed into the courthouse. They have already spent more than two days deliberating since getting the case late last week.

The panel meets daily from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with three 10-minute breaks.

The scene around the courthouse, where many fans and reporters have gathered, was low key compared to Monday, when the unexpected appearance of the defendant's father sent the crowd surging.

One Jackson fan was selling T-shirts in support of Michael Jackson.

Other fans who remain steadfast in support of Michael Jackson are changing plane tickets, hotel reservations and not wanting to leave until they witness the announcement of the verdict.

Also waiting for the verdict is the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who said the singer was optimistic as he waited the jury's decision.

Developing outside the courthouse on Wednesday was an anti-Jackson demonstration with a pair of people with placards decrying what they considered is the sinful nature of the pop singer's life.