SANTA MARIA, California - Michael Jackson`s trial on child molestation charges resumed on Thursday after the pop singer appeared to avoid arrest for turning up in court more than an hour late.
Jackson took his seat at the defendant`s bench about eight minutes after a deadline set by the trial judge for the star`s arrest if he did not show up in court to face his child sex accuser.
Trial judge Rodney Melville had issued an warrant for Jackson`s arrest and said he would forfeit his three million dollars bail unless the superstar turned up at court by 9:35 am (1735 GMT).
A frail-looking, pajama-clad Jackson arrived about two minutes after the deadline expired after seeking medical treatment for a back problem, his publicist said.
"Michael Jackson had a medical problem this morning and it was necessary for me to order his appearance," Judge Rodney Melville said, ordering jurors not to draw "any adverse inference" from what had occurred.
"I`m not expressing any opinion ... this has nothing to do with guilt or innocence," the judge said, adding that if any of the jurors or attorneys had failed to turn up on time he would have done the same thing.
03/10/2005 18:33 GMT