Pyjama clad Jackson threatened with arrest

Michael Jackson, walking slowly, has arrived in the court building nine minutes after the judge’s deadline.

Michael Jackson arrived late to his child molestation trial today to face a judge who threatened to arrest him and revoke his €2.1m bail.

Jackson was said to have been treated at a hospital for a back problem this morning.

He walked gingerly from his car to the court in Santa Maria, California, failing by a few minutes to beat a one-hour deadline the judge had set before activating an arrest warrant.

Jackson wore a jacket over pyjama bottoms and slippers and appeared to be in pain. His movements were hesitant as he took little steps. He turned to acknowledge fans on his way in.

Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville held onto the arrest warrant to give Jackson one hour to reach court from a hospital where his lawyer told the court the singer was being treated for a serious back problem.

The flurry of activity began a day that was already expected to be eventful, with Jackson’s accuser returning to the stand to testify about the key allegations against the singer.