Jackson accuser in good health, say reports

A boy who accused Michael Jackson of child abuse is in good health and is even able to scale walls at a military camp, it was reported today.

The 14-year-old cancer survivor had previously been said to be in dire need of a kidney transplant, and living in such poverty that he slept on the floor of his mother’s California apartment.

Today’s report scotched claims that he is gravely ill. A newspaper said it had obtained pictures of the boy exercising at a boot camp, carrying out rifle manoeuvres and climbing 8ft high walls.

The pictures were taken in January and February at a sea cadets training site.

Meanwhile, the boy and his family have moved into a new home in Brentwood, an affluent district of Los Angeles, with the mother’s new boyfriend, an army officer.

She met her new lover about two years ago but only moved in with him late last year.

In January, comedy club owner Jamie Masada, who introduced the boy to pop star Jackson, said the teenager had only one kidney as a result of his cancer, adding “it’s failing on him”.

He said: “I saw him last week and half of his face was swollen up. He’s able to communicate but he doesn’t even sleep in the bed.

“He sleeps on a floor in a small apartment in a not-so-good part of town.”

Mr Masada was unable to comment on the new report, due to a court gagging order.

Jackson has denied seven counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under age 14, and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to the boy, reportedly wine.

The boy and his mother are believed to be among those who have given evidence to a grand jury, which is deciding whether the Jackson case should proceed to trial.

Jackson is not believed to have appeared before the 19-member panel, sitting in Santa Barbara, California.

According to the New York Daily News, which obtained the photographs, two law enforcement officials said in court papers in January that the accuser is in good health.

Santa Barbara County senior deputy district attorney Ronald Zonen wrote that the youngster was “in excellent health, not withstanding his prior battle with cancer”.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff James Anderson said: “My investigators have met with (the boy) on two occasions within the last week and found him to appear in excellent health, despite his battle with cancer.”

Before the new details of the boy’s health emerged, his estranged father made an unsuccessful bid to gain access to the child.

He failed in the attempt due to previous allegations of neglect made against him.

Jackson has already appeared in court in Santa Barbara to deny the charges, which he has called a “big lie”.