Leo McKinstry

In defence of Wacko Jacko

Leo McKinstry explains why he has the gravest doubts about the charges brought against the weird and plastic Michael Jackson

issue 03 January 2004

In Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie described the bed that the ‘rampageous’ boys made for themselves in their magical primitive home in Neverland: ‘It filled nearly half the room and all the boys slept in it, lying like sardines in a tin.’ Today, the sleeping arrangements at a modern version of this fantastic place have led to one of the most explosive prosecutions in recent criminal history. The singer Michael Jackson, who so loves the Peter Pan story that he named his own Californian ranch ‘Neverland’, is awaiting trial on charges of molesting a 12-year-old boy, Gavin Arvizo, who has cancer, and of using an ‘intoxicating agent’ to facilitate sexual contact.

The case is due to come to court this month, and the outlook is bleak for Jackson. So deep is his predicament that he has had to pay the extraordinary sum of $3 million in bail, while he has also been forced to surrender his passport to the police, which could prevent a planned trip to Britain this coming week to promote his latest CD.

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