The ruling seems, if anything, to have heightened the interest of the US media, though the Jackson family - notoriously uncoordinated under most circumstances - has closed ranks around its most famous member, seeking to pursue a strategy of dignified silence.ĭr Carr, meanwhile, has become a familiar figure on US news networks. Santa Barbara prosecutors have imposed a so-called "gagging order" aimed at suppressing details of the latest charges, which concern a boy of Hispanic origin, 12 at the time of the offences which allegedly occurred early last year at Neverland, Jackson's 2,700-acre ranch at Los Olivos, north of Los Angeles. A trial date has been provisionally set for September.
The singer is currently free, on $3m (£1.6m) bail. Jackson, who denied allegations that he had sexually molested Chandler when the boy was 13, paid $22m (£12m) to the child and his family.
The case has uncomfortable echoes of the Jordie Chandler affair, settled out of court in January 1994. On 30 April he pleaded not guilty to all charges, each of which is punishable by three to eight years in prison. In January he was arraigned on 10 counts, including child molestation, administering an intoxicating agent to a minor, conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. This year promises to be one of the least amusing of the singer's turbulent life.
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