Jackson never held family hostage, court told

MICHAEL JACKSON’S young accuser and his family were never held captive at the singer’s Neverland ranch, his child molestation trial heard yesterday.

Joe Marcus, Jackson’s property manager, said he was never ordered to hold the child hostage and claimed the family had plenty of opportunity to leave, had they so wanted.

Asked about an entry in a log kept at Neverland, which cautioned staff not to let the family off the 2,700 acre property, he said it was to prevent the boys from driving vehicles out on to the road. He told Santa Maria court he had taken the family out several times, including a shopping trip and a visit to the orthodontist. He denied he was there to guard them.

The boy’s mother, has claimed she used the dental trip as a ruse to escape the ranch, but Mr Marcus insisted the family had been anxious to return to Neverland.

Under cross-examination he admitted he had lied to police in November 2003 when he claimed to have no knowledge of Jackson sharing his bed with children.

“That was untrue, wasn’t it?” said Gordon Auchincloss, prosecuting.

“Yes,” Marcus replied.

Asked whether he knew Jackson kept pornography at the house, Mr Marcus said he did not.

The court was shown photos of dolls dressed in bondage gear, recovered from Jackson’s office, and the witness acknowledged they were kept on the singer’s desk, although he called them “artwork.”

Mr Marcus said he believed Jackson had special bonds with girls as well as boys, although he struggled to come up with names.

“He has friends, Elizabeth Taylor. I’m drawing a blank on a few of the names,” he said. “There were other women. Liza Minnelli has been there - they seem to be good friends.”

Mr Marcus is one of several employees who has testified he never saw the star engage in any inappropriate behaviour with children.

Jackson, 46, denies molesting the 13-year-old in 2003, plying him with alcohol and conspiring to hold him and his family captive. The trial continues.