Michael Jackson charged with child abuse

Pop superstar Michael Jackson was formally charged tonight with molesting a cancer-stricken boy invited to his Neverland Ranch.

The charges set the stage for what could become one of the most sensational celebrity trials this Internet-wired, 24-hour-cable world has seen.

The charging documents were delivered to a court clerk in Santa Maria, California and specific counts were not immediately released.

The charges come nearly a month after authorities raided Jackson's estate and arrested him days later on suspicion of child molestation. He has been free on $3m (€2.4m) bail.

Jackson has said the charges are “predicated on a big lie”. His lawyer, Mark Geragos, has said the accusers are after the singer’s money.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon agreed to delay Jackson’s arraignment to January 16 and return Jackson’s passport to allow him to travel to Britain from December 20 to January 6.