Jackson jury hears from Secret Service fingerprint expert

A SECRET Service forensic scientist testified in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial yesterday, describing fingerprinting techniques to lay the groundwork for prosecution testimony about prints found on adult magazines seized at the pop star’s Neverland ranch.

The expert, Antonio Cantu, did not test any of the magazines but was called to explain methodology.

The prosecution has said one magazine had fingerprints from Jackson and his accuser. The defence has noted that the magazines weren’t fingerprinted until after grand jury hearings in March and April 2004 and the accuser may have touched them during those hearings.

Defence attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. has also suggested Jackson once caught the boy looking at the magazines and took them away, which also could have left both sets of fingerprints.

On Wednesday, prosecutors were barred from using sexually explicit material found on computers in Jackson’s bedroom, but showed jurors a barrage of adult magazines they said were seized from the singer’s home.

Jurors saw about 75 images, including dozens of photographs from magazines like Playboy, Penthouse and Hustler, and a few covers of adult videos.