Jackson accuser called star ‘Daddy’

THE family of Michael Jackson’s accuser heaped praise on the singer and called him a father figure in a video shown to the jury in the pop star’s child molestation case yesterday.

Janet Arvizo, the mother of the alleged victim, said in the video that her son asked Jackson if he could call him “daddy,” and the entertainer replied “of course.”

Throughout, the family used the words “nice,” “humble,” “funny” and “fatherly” to describe Jackson.

The video was recorded in February 2003, two weeks after the airing of Martin Bashir’s TV documentary that damaged Jackson because it showed him holding hands with the boy and saying he allowed children to sleep in his bed.

It was presented as Davellin Arvizo, the 18-year-old sister of the accuser returned to the witness box in Santa Maria, California, for a second day of testimony.

Prosecutors allege that Jackson’s associates coerced the family into making the video by holding them captive. Yesterday, Davellin, a college student, faced the singer for the first time since her family left his Neverland ranch two years ago, testifying that Jackson’s associates tried to control her family’s whereabouts and that Jackson served alcohol to her brother.

During the playing of the video today, Jackson, in white shirt and red tie, appeared to dab at his eyes with a handkerchief. His mother, Katherine, wiped away tears as the family talked about how good Jackson was.

Also present were Jackson’s sister LaToya and brother Jackie.

The alleged victim Gavin, aged 13 at the time, recalled in the video his first visit to Neverland and how he asked Jackson if he could sleep in his room. Jackson said it was OK if his parents gave permission, which they did, the boy said.

He said that he and Jackson got into a debate about who would sleep on the bed and who would sleep on the floor.

“He told me you sleep on the bed. ... Michael finally said, ‘OK, if you love me you’ll sleep on the bed’,” Gavin said.

His mother laughingly interjected, “That’s so unfair.”

Gavin said Jackson slept on the floor and several other people also slept in the room that night.

The video showed the family members smiling and sitting as a group in front of a decorative backdrop. The mother occasionally whispered to the boy.

She said her son has a rare blood type, O-negative, and that Jackson made sure there was enough blood for transfusions during the boy’s treatment for cancer.

The defence contends the video supports its claim that the family is only after Jackson’s money and that they only accused him of wrongdoing when he stopped giving them money and gifts.