Prosecutors in Michael Jackson's child-molestation trial can introduce evidence of past sexual-abuse claims against the pop star involving five young boys, a judge ruled today.
The decision by Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville means jurors will hear testimony about a 1993 case that Jackson settled out of court for about $23 million.
The court can also hear from the son of a former Neverland Valley Ranch employee who claims the performer sexually abused him.
Judge Melville said prosecutors could call up to nine witnesses to testify about inappropriate behaviour by Jackson toward young boys between the ages of 10 and 13, including Home Alonestar Macaulay Culkin.
Only one of the boys was expected to testify at the trial and a spokeswoman for Culkin - who has emphatically denied being molested by Jackson - told reporters she did not expect the 24-year-old actor to be involved.
Legal experts said the ruling marked a turning point in the trial and threatened to swamp the defence with accusations of sexual misconduct by Jackson.
Defence lawyers would be forced to prove that all nine new witnesses were lying about sexual misconduct involving Jackson, according to one analyst.