Reply #2: Michael Jackson went AWOL from his child molestation trial Thursday [View All]

[trof]

Mar. 10, 2005 - Michael Jackson went AWOL from his child molestation trial Thursday and was nearly jailed before he finally showed up more than an hour late, in his pajama bottoms and slippers, to listen to his accuser's second day of testimony.

The judge apparently did not punish Jackson for his tardiness, which his lawyer blamed on a serious back problem that required treatment at a hospital.

Jackson's late arrival occurred before his 15-year-old accuser testified about drinking liquor with the pop singer and looking at sex magazines with him. He also said he once saw Jackson walk in to the room naked.

The jury heard only brief remarks from Judge Rodney S. Melville about the drama that unfolded at the start of the day, when defense lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr. announced Jackson's back problem.

Before Jackson showed up, the judge said he was issuing an arrest warrant and might revoke his $3 million bail. But he told the attorney he would hold the warrant for one hour to give the defendant time to get to court.

A distressed Jackson arrived a few minutes after the hour was up, walking gingerly into court wearing slippers, a suit jacket over a T-shirt and pajama bottoms a far cry from the carefully selected, flamboyant outfits he usually wears to court. As he walked toward the courthouse, Jackson turned around and waved at his fans.

"Mr. Jackson had a medical problem and it was necessary for me to order his appearance," Melville told jurors, adding that he didn't want the panel to draw any negative inferences from the developments.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/print?id=569792