Michael Jackson released from hospital

Pop star Michael Jackson has been released from a hospital where he was treated for flu symptoms, which delayed jury selection for his trial on child molestation charges.

The entertainer returned to his Neverland ranch, Jackson spokeswoman Raymone Bain said.

“He’s still not feeling well, but he’s going to continue his recovery at home,” Bain said.

She said his nausea and other symptoms had subsided enough for him to leave. “He was strong enough, they felt, for him to go home,” she said referring to his doctors.

Jackson left Marian Medical Centre shortly after a late afternoon press conference in which a doctor said the entertainer still had “viral symptoms” but was in good spirits.

Reporters and photographers did not see Jackson leaving, but two black SUVs pulled up to a hospital loading dock out of sight of news media, then left swiftly.

At the press conference, Dr Todd Bailey of Marian Medical Centre gave a brief update on the entertainer’s condition but did not answer any questions.

“Mr Jackson continues to be in stable condition and remains under observation at this time. He continues to need care for some persistent viral symptoms, but otherwise he’s in good spirits,” the doctor said.

Earlier, Jackson’s parents, Joe and Katherine, and brother Jermaine visited the hospital for several hours.

Jackson, 46, fell ill on Tuesday morning while he was en route to the courthouse, where a pool of prospective jurors was waiting to be questioned by lawyers.

The pop star was taken to Marian Medical Centre where an emergency room physician said he was treated for a ”flu-like illness with some vomiting”. The treatment included intravenous fluids.

A throng of news media covering Jackson’s trial, and some Jackson fans converged on the hospital, staying around the clock. Yesterday morning, someone who resembled Jackson could be seen peeking through blinds over the window of one hospital room and waving.

Judge Rodney Melville, who noted that some prospective jurors were also out with the flu, postponed jury selection until February 22.

Individual questioning of prospects by attorneys began on Monday after an initial one-week delay stemming from the death of defence attorney Thomas Mesereau’s sister.

Jackson is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland ranch, plying the boy with alcohol and conspiring to hold him and his family captive.

The trial is expected to last six months.