New child molestation claims against Michael Jackson

A choreographer who had previously testified that Michael Jackson never sexually abused him has now made an about-turn, launching a child molestation claim against the late pop star's estate.

Wade Robson testified in defence of the Thriller singer in his 2005 child sex abuse trial.

But he now says he was abused by Jackson over a seven-year period when he was a minor.

Jackson's attorney dismissed the claim as "outrageous and pathetic".

"Michael Jackson was a monster and in their hearts every normal person knows it," Mr Robson's lawyer, Henry Gradstein, was quoted as saying in a statement to the AFP news agency.

“In addition to being one of the most talented people on the planet, Wade Robson is one of the kindest, most gentle, decent and introspective human beings one will ever meet. He is the loving father of a young son and happily married. Last year, on a career trajectory that was off the charts, he collapsed under the stress and sexual trauma of what had happened to him for seven years as a child. He lived with the brainwashing by a sexual predator until the burden of it all crushed him.”

Robson’s claims against Jackson

Gradstein goes on to allege that Jackson said to Robson, “If anyone ever finds out about what we did, we will go to jail for the rest of our lives.” He says Jackson told Robson, “Our lives will be ruined forever.”

Accordingly, Gradstein deems Jackson a “sexual predator” who used intimidation to silence Robson over the years. It is unclear why Robson has chosen this time to come forward, but Gradstein insists there is no financial motive.

The court filing specifies that facts will be supported by affidavits from Dr. David Arredondo, a child’s psychiatrist in San Francisco.

“The irony here is that we were the ones who filed under seal and still tried to keep it secret,” he commented. “No amount of damages is even listed in our papers. There are significant legal issues involved in this case that have the potential to impact lives beyond just our client. But the Jackson money machine, in which everyone is indeed financially motivated, is at it once again to keep the truth from coming out. This time it won’t work.”

Jackson’s camp denies accusations

The Jackson family has not yet responded to the new allegations, though Howard Weitzman, attorney for the Michael Jackson Estate and its co-Executors, dismisses the claims, referring to the complaint as “outrageous and pathetic.”

In a statement, Weitzman said, “This is a young man who has testified at least twice under oath over the past 20 years and said in numerous interviews that Michael Jackson never did anything inappropriate to him or with him. Now, nearly four years after Michael has passed this sad and less than credible claim has been made. We are confident that the court will see this for what it is.”

Perry Sanders, a lawyer for Jackson’s mother Katherine, told the NY Daily News the claim was “absurd.”