Comedian Next Up In Jackson Trial

Michael Jackson is scheduled for a half-day in court, after he trembled and wept in apparent pain at the counsel table Monday during testimony in which an expert described symptoms of sexual abuse.

On Tuesday, the molestation trial continues with testimony from Louise Palanker, a comedian who tried to help the accuser and the boy's family as he battled cancer.

Monday's testimony was delayed by Jackson's arriving several minutes late. Judge Rodney S. Melville took no apparent action, though he had threatened to arrest Jackson and revoke his bail on March 10 when the singer, wearing pajama bottoms, arrived more than an hour late complaining of a back problem.

The judge conferred in his chambers with Jackson's attorneys and doctor Monday as the singer sat waiting. The judge then took the bench and, with no explanation for Jackson's tardiness, ordered that testimony resume.

Monday's chief witness was a child abuse expert who was called by the prosecution to describe symptoms of sexual abuse that could relate to the charges against Jackson, who is accused of molesting a now-15-year-old boy at his Neverland ranch, giving him alcohol and conspiring to hold the boy's family captive in 2003.

Prosecution witness Anthony J. Urquiza, a child psychologist who has not interviewed Jackson's accuser, said children often delay reporting abuse. He also said boys assaulted by men are more hesitant to report abuse because they may be afraid of being labeled homosexual.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. asked the psychologist whether Jackson's accuser may be lying. The defense has argued the allegations were made to extort money.

Urquiza replied that only 2 percent to 6 percent of molestation allegations turn out to be false according to research he has seen. He said he knew of no research concerning false molestation claims motivated by money, or in which the target of false allegations was a world famous celebrity who was known to be wealthy.

Prosecutors, who claim Jackson served his accuser wine from a soda can during a trip on a private jet, also called Lauren Wallace, a flight attendant for XtraJet of Santa Monica, California.

She said she served Jackson wine in soda cans on several flights and hid alcohol for him in the lavatory "out of children's reach." But she said she was never on a flight with the accuser and his family.

Under cross-examination, she said she was told to prepare wine in soda cans for Jackson's flights and hide alcohol because he didn't want children to see him drinking.

Tuesday was to be a half-day in court beginning with testimony from Louise Palanker, a comedian who tried to help the accuser and the boy's family as he battled cancer.

As Jackson left Monday afternoon, he said he was "very much hurt" and on medication "by way of a doctor."

Jackson spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said she spoke with Jackson late Sunday and he told her he was still having severe and sometimes excruciating back pains.

"I asked him how was he doing and he said his back was killing him," she said.