Jackson's accuser said to testify before grand jury

Proceedings held under heavy secrecy; Comedy club owner who introduced boy to singer also reportedly heard

By TIM MOLLOY | Associated Press Writer

7:39 AM EST, March 31, 2004

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Under extraordinary secrecy, Michael Jackson's 14-year-old accuser testified before the grand jury hearing evidence in the pop star's molestation case, according to a source close to the proceedings.

Tuesday's hearing also included testimony from Jamie Masada, the comedy club owner who first arranged for Jackson and the boy to meet, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Masada declined comment. He has said previously that he promised to introduce the boy to Jackson when the boy was undergoing chemotherapy in 2001.

A court order bars the media from contacting any minor called to testify before the grand jury.

It was unclear whether the hearings would continue Wednesday.

The site of the meeting Tuesday was supposed to be secret, but several news crews arrived at the scene in the morning and were prevented from entering the area by a barricade and Sheriff's deputies.

Also on Tuesday, Theodore Boutrous Jr., an attorney for news organizations including The Associated Press, petitioned the 2nd District Court of Appeal to halt the barricade and require the location of the grand jury be disclosed.

Grand jury activities are usually confidential, and court officials have kept quiet as to whether a grand jury is hearing testimony in the Jackson case.

Jackson was charged by the district attorney late last year with seven counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under age 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to the child. Jackson has pleaded innocent. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Friday.

If prosecutors obtain a grand jury indictment they would not have to present evidence at a preliminary hearing to determine if the case should go to trial.

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Jackson's accuser said to testify before grand jury

Proceedings held under heavy secrecy; Comedy club owner who introduced boy to singer also reportedly heard

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