Neverland 'happiest place on Earth', says witness

Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch was “the happiest place on Earth,” the mother of an alleged victim told his child molestation trial today.

Joy Robson claims she never saw anything inappropriate happen between the pop star and her son, Wade, who also denies being abused.

She told Santa Maria court, California, that being at Neverland “helped you forget all your problems”.

She and her son are among the first defence witnesses to testify in Jackson’s defence. His lawyer, Tom Mesereau, has pledged to a stage mini trial to counter each allegation that the singer molested five boys before meeting his current accuser.

A former Neverland maid has told the court she once saw Jackson and Robson showering together.

Mrs Robson said she had never been afraid Jackson would molest her son. Defending her decision not to allow him be interviewed by police investigating previous abuse allegations, she said she was afraid he may be manipulated.

“But you weren’t afraid that Mr Jackson would manipulate your son?” asked Tom Sneddon, prosecuting.

“Not at all,” she replied. “I didn’t know them. I knew Michael Jackson.” Robson’s sister, Chantal, now in her mid 20s, later testified that she had shared a bed with Jackson and her brother but said nothing sexual or inappropriate occurred.

She described Jackson as a “friend”.

Robson, now 22, said he had known Jackson since he was five and stayed at Neverland more than 20 times. He slept in Jackson’s bedroom on all but three or four of those visits, he told the court.

The pair talked, watched movies, played video games, and had pillow fights, claimed. But he said Jackson never touched him in a sexual way.

Another alleged victim, Brett Barnes, has also testified that he stayed with Jackson at least 10 times as a young child. Asked if he had ever been touched inappropriately, he said: “Never, I wouldn’t stand for it.”

Jackson, aged 46, denies molesting a 13-year-old boy, plying him with alcohol and conspiring to hold him and his family captive. The trial continues.