US: Wearing a sparkling white armband and giving a gentle wave to the 50 or so fans packed into the courtroom, the defendant in case No 1133603 arrived to enter his plea at Santa Maria superior court yesterday, writes Duncan Campbell in Santa Maria
In a barely audible voice, Michael Joe Jackson pleaded not guilty to seven charges of lewd behaviour with a minor and two of supplying a minor with an intoxicating agent.
Jackson was bailed until a hearing next month, but not before he had irritated the judge by arriving 20 minutes late.
"You have started out on the wrong foot with me," said the no-nonsense Judge Rodney Melville. "It is an insult to the court." He issued Jackson with a "polite warning" as to future punctuality before accepting his plea.
The Jackson case has turned this normally sleepy community upside down. Hundreds of fans had gathered from Thursday evening to show their support, some from as far away as France and Japan, some bussed in from Los Angeles in a self-styled "caravan of love".
A lucky few won a lottery to be inside the court. "It was a lot of waiting and a lot of praying," said student Casey Underwood, who had travelled 200 miles from Orange County to attend the brief hearing.
There was a polite ripple of applause as Jackson's parents and siblings including Janet, Jermaine, Tito and Randy entered the court.
When Jackson himself entered, shielded behind dark glasses and members of his legal team, there were loud sighs of what could only be described as adoration and stifled weeping from fans.
Signs proclaiming Jackson's innocence were displayed around the court as television news helicopters hovered above. "I care for children - handcuff me quick," said one. "Stop Filthy Press," said another. Vendors dispensed "Michael is 1,000% innocent" T-shirts.
The turnout of media from across the world was so great that some journalists were resorting to the old trick of interviewing each other.
Parking outside the Santa Maria court is normally free, but nothing was normal in Santa Maria this week, and the local council charged $250 per vehicle per space. Local homeowners hopefully offered their drives for parking for $50.
The local chamber of commerce in this mainly agricultural community of around 82,000 people 170 miles north of Los Angeles is delighted as all the hotels were full and the restaurants and bars busy.
Jackson's next court date was fixed for Friday, February 13th, a date that drew fresh intakes of breath from fans in the courtoom at its joint significance of bad luck and the birthday of one of his children.
After the proceedings, Jackson got on the roof of his black sport utility vehicle to wave, do a few dance steps and blow kisses at the hundreds of fans who turned out to sing his songs, lend him moral support and wear T-shirts bearing his name. - (Guardian Service)