SANTA MARIA, California - Embattled pop icon Michael Jackson arrived at his child molestation trial Monday for the first time since a dramatic pyjama-clad appearance that saw him narrowly escape arrest.
A subdued-looking "King of Pop" showed up at the court in the California town of Santa Maria accompanied by his parents and greeted by a throng of fans on time to hear his lawyer grill his accuser.
On Thursday, trial Judge Rodney Melville issued a warrant for Jackson`s arrest and ordered his three million dollars bail forfeited after he failed to turn up in time for the court hearing at which his 15-year-old accuser told of the alleged sex abuse at the hands of the star.
After a high-speed car journey from a hospital emergency room, a limping Jackson turned up at court more than one hour late wearing his pyjamas and slippers.
While Jackson arrived a few minutes later than the deadline set by the judge, Melville quashed the arrest warrant and extended the bail of the star, whose lawyers said he had suffered a back injury while dressing.
03/14/2005 16:53 GMT