Adds Jackson leaving

(18 Sep 2004) SHOTLIST

1. People waiting outside court
2. Michael Jackson's convoy arriving, people cheering, shouting ("Michael, innocent, Michael.")
3. Various of Jackson and entourage getting out of car, walking to court and waving at fans
4. Various of Michael Jackson going through security check at entrance of court, disappearing in court room
5. Various of Jackson family members going through security check
6. Various of Michael Jackson's defence attorney Tom Mesereau arriving at courthouse
7. Meserau walking inside, through security check
8. Santa Barbara County District Attorney and Jackson prosecutor Tom Sneddon arriving inside courthouse
9. Various of Jackson departing courthouse
10. SOUNDBITE (English), Tom Mesereau, Michael Jackson's defence attorney
"Mr. Jackson has been repeatedly advised by those who stood to make fortunes in his business affairs to pay money rather than face certain false allegations. As a result, many years ago, he did pay money, rather than litigate, two false allegations that he had harmed children."
11. People waiting outside courthouse
12. SOUNDBITE:(English), Tom Mesereau, Michael Jackson's defence attorney
"Mr. Jackson now realises that the advice he received was wrong. He should have fought these actions to the bitter end and vindicated himself. The recent publicity about these settlements is unfair and damaging to him, his family and his dedication to the world's children. The charges he is faces are false and will be battled in a court of law within our justice system. He is innocent and will be vindicated."
13. Various of Jackson and family walk up to van and leave

POPSTAR GETS CHEERED OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE

Michael Jackson was met with cheers on Friday as he came to court to watch the mother of the boy who accused him of molestation undergo questioning by defence lawyers.

Jackson and members of his family, all dressed in white, enthusiastically waved to fans pressed against a chain link fence surrounding the Santa Barbara County courthouse.

At the hearing, which began on Thursday, the defence is attempting to persuade the judge to disallow as evidence some items taken in a search of Jackson's Neverland Ranch and from the office of a private investigator.

The accuser's mother was to testify Friday about whether she knew private investigator Bradley Miller worked for former Jackson lawyer Mark Geragos.

The singer's attorneys are trying to show that she and prosecutors should have known Geragos had hired Miller, and that items taken from Miller's office could not be admitted at the trial because of the attorney-client privilege of confidentiality.

The woman's testimony would be the first time since the case began that she was face to face with the pop star she once trusted to host her children on overnight visits to Neverland.

In a grand jury hearing earlier this year, she called him "the devil."

Later during the day, Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. proclaimed:

"The charges he faces are false and will be battled in a court of law within our justice system. He is innocent and will be vindicated."

Mesereau also spoke about two previous cases where Jackson opted to settle rather than go to court.

According to Mesereau, Jackson regrets settling those two cases.

Referring to Jackson, Mesereau also said "recent publicity about these settlements is unfair and damaging to him.'

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