SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) – Michael Jackson’s mother said Sunday that she left the courtroom during her son’s child molestation trial last week to use the rest room – not to avoid hearing graphic testimony.
Katherine Jackson, who has attended every day of the trial, said through a spokeswoman that many media outlets misinterpreted her brief absence from the courtroom on Thursday.
“Accusing me of leaving due to graphic testimony when I simply went to the rest room is not fair, not accurate,” she said in a written statement.
Her spokeswoman, Angel Howansky, said Katherine Jackson stepped out during a break when attorneys were meeting in the judge’s chambers. When she tried to re-enter, the jury had already been seated and she had to wait until the next break, Howansky said.
Michael Jackson, 46, is on trial for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland ranch in 2003. On Thursday, a former security guard at the ranch told a lurid story about seeing Jackson kiss, fondle and perform oral sex on a boy who later received a financial settlement from the pop star.
Defense attorneys have accused the guard of making up the story after he lost a lawsuit against the singer.
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