Jacko 'kept boy prisoner'

Michael Jackson imprisoned a boy he is accused of molesting at his ranch to force him to make a video absolving him of abuse claims, a court heard yesterday.

The singer panicked after Martin Bashir's TV documentary was shown in which he admitted he still shared beds with young boys, it was alleged.

Cancer sufferer Gavin Carvizo, 12, who accuses the star of molesting him, also appeared on the show.

In the documentary, broadcast in February 2003, Jackson defended his habit of letting children sleep in his bed as 'sweet' and non-sexual.

'The fact that Mr Jackson rationalised this behaviour on national television was his downfall,' deputy district attorney Gordon Auchincloss told a court.

'It represented the complete and utter ruin of his empire. It made him an international object of loathing and scorn,' he added during a hearing on a motion to dismiss the case.

Mr Auchincloss detailed some of the allegations in the indictment which had been kept secret.

He suggested Jackson lured the alleged victim to his bed after the programme was shown. 'The person Jackson perceived could put out the public relations fire was the victim and his family,' the prosecutor said.

He claimed that Jackson flew the family on luxury holidays in his private jet. They were then allegedly imprisoned at Neverland where Jackson, 45, was said to have enticed the boy with alcohol.

The singer wanted the boy to say on film that Jackson did not harm him.

'At Neverland, there are late nights, no homework. Do what you want, eat what you want, stay out late - no rules. It's a world of selfindulgence. Ultimately, it gets the boy to sleep in the bed of Jackson,' added Mr Auchincloss.

Defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr labelled the prosecution case 'absurd on its face'.

Jackson, who was not in Santa Barbara Superior Court, is charged with committing a lewd act on a child, giving him alcohol and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

The hearing is expected to last several days.