Jackson jury out for second night

The jury in Michael Jackson’s child sex abuse trial was sent home for a second night tonight without reaching a verdict.

After completing their first full day of deliberations, the eight women and four men left the court having met for a total of eight hours.

Early in the day they sent a question to Judge Rodney Melville, which was discussed and answered by lawyers, but not divulged.

Outside, the hoards of fans and media grew steadily as the waiting game got underway in earnest.

Civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson also appeared to offer his support.

“He (Michael Jackson) is convinced that he’ll be acquitted if the jury uses reasonable doubt,” he said, having met Jackson for several hours last night. “He declares his innocence in the most private sessions.”

The Rev Jackson said that the singer feels betrayed by “people he trusted, people he employed, people he sought to be generous toward.” He added: “I think in some sense he feels betrayed by those he trusted the most, who now seek to destroy him.”

Jackson, who faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of all ten counts against him, awaits his fate at his Neverland ranch, some 40 miles from the court in Santa Maria, California.

Lawyers for both sides could do little but wait patiently for news from the windowless jury room.

“Britain has the Royal family, we have the Jacksons,” said Maggie Defaria, a supporter from San Diego. “He’s like a blood brother to me, we are his lifeline.”

There was a brief commotion when the singer’s father, Joe Jackson, suddenly appeared at court saying: “Where’s my son? I want to see my son.”

Around 100 fans rushed through the gates, mobbing him as he made his way to the back of the courthouse and tangled with the media before being ushered back behind the barriers.

The jury was given the case on Friday after a four-month trial which involved more than 140 witnesses.

In its closing argument the defence claimed that the young accuser and his family were trying to pull “the biggest con of their careers”, and implored the jury to acquit the singer.

The prosecution painted a picture of Jackson as a serial child molester and Neverland as a predator’s lair.

Concerns for the frail star’s health grew last night after he was treated in hospital for the second time in a week. He is said to be suffering from dehydration and severe back pain.

Meanwhile, an audiotape recorded in 2000 was disclosed in which Jackson expressed empathy with Gavin, and said he wanted to help him get over his cancer.

“We – he – was cheated out of his childhood, and I think I can reflect a lot on that, because of my past,” he said on the tape obtained by ABC News.

“I’ve had doctors, and his (Gavin’s) doctors say it’s a miracle how he’s doing better, and that’s why I know that this magic of love is so important.”

Jackson also said he would kill himself if he was told he could never spend any more time with children.

“I cannot live without them,” he said. “If you told me right now that ’Michael, you can never see another child,’ I would kill myself. I swear to you … I swear because I (would) have nothing else to live for.”

The interview was recorded by Jackson’s one-time spiritual advisor, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who taped 30 hours of conversation with the singer to be used in a book aimed at helping parents.

Jackson met his accuser in 2000 while the youngster was being treated for cancer.

He is accused of molesting the boy in 2003, plying him with alcohol and conspiring to hold the boy’s family captive to get them to rebut a damaging documentary.

He denies four counts of committing a lewd act on a child, one count of conspiracy involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion, one count of attempting to commit a lewd act on a child and four counts of administering alcohol for the purpose of committing child molestation.