SANTA MARIA, California, Jan 21 (AFP) - The judge in Michael Jackson's child sex case on Friday gave prosecutors permission to call an expert to explain to trial jurors why young victims often show love for their abusers.
The specialist is expected to help prosecutors explain why Jackson's now 15-year-old alleged victim delayed reporting his alleged molestation at the hands of the "King of Pop" to family or authorities.
The expert will be summoned to appear at Jackson's trial, which is set to begin in 10 days time with the process of selecting a jury.
The testimony will help "dispel myths" about child abuse and show "why a child might demonstrate affection of even love for the person who does the offence," prosecutor Ronald Zonen told Judge Rodney Melville.
Melville said he would allow the testimony, but indicated that the expert would not be allowed discuss issues such as whether Jackson, 46, fitted the profile of a child molester.
Zonen said he wanted the specialist to explain why the boy's claims may have emerged in a "piecemeal" fashion and why he did not immediately raise the alarm.
The testimony will "dispel myths associated with child abuse trauma," Zones told the judge at a hearing in the California hamlet of Santa Maria, which is gearing up for the celebrity trial of the year.
Jackson's lead lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, had strongly urged Melville not to allow the testimony.
He maintained that the expert may distort the jury's view of the case and implied that the alleged victim and his younger brother may have had a history of lying in school and in the community.
"What if they are flat out liars?" Mesereau said, appealing to the judge to bar the expert's testimony.
Lawyers from both sides in the case also went over details of the how a 12-person panel would be selected for the trial, which is expected to last around six month, according to court officials.
01/21/2005 20:27 GMT - AFP