Michael Jackson and members of his family turned up at court late yesterday to watch his attorney tackle the prosecutor who has twice charged him with child molestation.
Jackson had not been expected to attend the hearing but apparently changed his mind after learning that Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon would be forced to testify about a search conducted by authorities last year.
His lawyers are trying to exclude from the trial evidence prosecutors seized from the office of private investigator Brad Miller, who was hired by Jackson's former attorney Mr Mark Geragos.
They say the seizure violated the rights of attorneys and clients to privileged information.
Mr Sneddon took the witness chair to be questioned by the singer's lead attorney, Mr Tom Mesereau. Jackson appeared to relish the confrontation and a statement on his website referred to it as a "showdown."
Jackson, wearing an all-white three-piece suit, arrived at court in a gold double-decker luxury tour bus and was greeted by more than 100 screaming fans.
He was accompanied by brothers Jackie, Randy and Jermaine and sisters Janet and LaToya, who were also clad in white and sat in the front rows of the courtroom. Parents Joseph and Katherine Jackson came dressed in blue.
Some of the assembled throng and court observers took the white garb as a symbol of innocence or purity in the face of child molestation charges that could send him to prison for two decades, a Jackson spokeswoman declined to comment.
Randy Jackson would say only: "Its a personal thing."
Jackson is scheduled to stand trial on January 31st on a 10-count indictment that charges him with child molestation and conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty.