New Michael Jackson molestation claims ‘absurd,’ lawyer says
New molestation allegations against Michael Jackson have met with skepticism from the King of Pop’s former attorney.
Eight years after he testified in the Jackson molestation trial that the pop star never touched him, an Australian choreographer has filed a claim against the singer’s estate alleging “childhood sexual abuse.â€
Attorneys for Wade Robson, who knew Jackson and stayed at the singer’s Neverland Ranch as a teenager, has asked a Los Angeles judge to allow him to make a late claim as creditor in Jackson’s estate.
Most of the specifics are under seal, but the documents filed May 1 and publicly available state Robson’s claim to monies comes from “childhood sexual abuse.†The documents cite sealed evidence from a mental health practitioner.
“It’s absurd,†said Tom Mesereau, Jackson’s criminal defense attorney said in an interview with CNN. “He was one of the strongest witnesses for the defense at Michael Jackson’s criminal trial in 2005. He was adamant under oath that he had never been molested at any time.â€
Jackson died four years ago at age 50, becoming the the only person in Los Angeles County not in the medical field to die of propofol intoxication in their home in the last 14 years.
Since his death, his estate’s net worth has soared as allegations of molestation have faded.
In 2005, a highly publicized trial concluded with Jackson being found not guilty of multiple counts of abusing a 13-year-old cancer survivor in 2003.
During that trial, a housekeeper testified she saw Jackson showering with a boy she believed to be Robson, who as an adult went on to do choreography for Britney Spears.
Robson testified under oath that while he stayed at the Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County numerous times and slept in Jackson’s bed, he was never molested.
“Absolutely not,†he replied when questioned by Mesereau whether he had ever been molested.
Robson denied showering with Jackson and said he and the singer played together like children.
As for allegations that Jackson molested him, Robson said, “I think it’s ridiculous.â€
When Robson took the witness stand for Jackson’s defense, the singer gave him the thumbs up.
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