SANTA MARIA, Calif., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The mother of the boy Michael Jackson allegedly molested testified Friday at a pre-trial hearing in California.
The New York Times reports that the 36-year-old woman was identified only as Jane Doe. Under vigorous questioning by Jackson's lawyer, she maintained that she was "falsely imprisoned" by Jackson's employees last year and threatened by an aide who warned her that Jackson could buy off people.
Prosecutors charge that Jackson molested the witness's son and other boys at his Neverland Ranch. Jackson maintains that he is a victim of greedy parents seeking large financial payoffs.
Outside the courthouse, lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr. said that Jackson's mistake was paying some of his accusers -- "He should have fought these actions to the bitter end and vindicated himself." The judge, who has banned any public statements by both sides, allowed Mesereau to respond to interviews with the mother that have been broadcast recently.
The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether prosecutors and police violated Jackson's rights by raiding the office of an investigator working for his then-lawyer.
Friday's testimony was the first confrontation between the woman and Jackson, who appeared with his lawyer outside flanked by most of his siblings.
