Jackson trial begins

Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial began in earnest today with the judge reading the indictment to the jury in advance of opening statements in which prosecution and defence lawyers were to outline their cases.

Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville also told the court in Santa Maria, California, he would give some instructions to the jurors, who are to decide whether Jackson molested a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland ranch.