‘I did not seek money for son’

THE mother of Michael Jackson’s accuser claimed yesterday she had never sought financial assistance for her cancer-stricken son.

She steadfastly rejected claims she had been the mastermind behind various schemes and events to raise money for her family.

She told Santa Maria court, California, that her ex-husband had been the driving force behind a local newspaper article which was expected to print bank account details for donations. She said a $10,000 cheque made out in her name from comedian Louise Palanker was done under his instructions and she had simply been told what to do with it.

She also claimed she had not known about fundraising events held on her son’s, behalf at a Los Angeles comedy club until much later.

Michael Jackson’s defence team is attempting to portray the woman as a conniving money grabber, who used her children to extort money from celebrities.

She does not claim to have seen her son being molested by the pop star but is a key prosecution witness on the conspiracy charge.

She has testified that she was held captive by Jackson aides who monitored her every move in the aftermath of the Martin Bashir TV documentary shown in Britain.

Quizzed repeatedly about why she did not seek help during the alleged captivity, she told the court: “I wish I had.”

She has claimed that taped interviews during which her family heaps praise on Jackson were entirely scripted by the singer’s aides.

She described how she and her children were violently beaten by her ex-husband.

The prosecution is expected to bring an expert on battered spouse syndrome to the stand to explain her erratic behaviour and response to the alleged events of 2003.