Jackson's Ex-Wife To Testify

The judge in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial ruled Monday that prosecutors may call the mother of two of Jackson's children to testify against him.

The ruling by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville followed arguments in which prosecutors sought to allow testimony by Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson's children Paris and Prince Michael.

The prosecution wants Rowe to back up testimony given by the accuser's mother, reports CBS News Correspondent Steve Futterman. The mother testified that Jackson aides had forced her to say nice things about the pop star in a video put together to counter negative publicity about Jackson, and that the video was scripted.

The prosecution contends Jackson conspired to hold the accuser's family captive to get them to make the videotape in order to rebut a damaging television documentary about Jackson.

Rowe, who also was recruited to appear in the video, is expected to confirm that it was scripted. The big question is, what else might she say, especially about Jackson's private life.

However, a source close to the prosecution says Rowe claims her answers were outlined, not scripted, reports CBS News Correspondent Vince Gonzales, and she could be a reluctant — even combative — witness. Plus, the prosecution might want to open a line of questions as to how her children with Jackson were conceived.

Rowe signed a confidentiality agreement that prevents her from discussing the pop star's private life, but that would not apply to testimony in a trial.

Meanwhile, this should be the week the prosecution wraps up its child molestation case against singer Michael Jackson.

During the arguments, prosecutor Ron Zonen revealed that Rowe's parental rights had been restored. Rowe once gave up her those rights, but Zonen said she sought to get them back and a family court proceeding under way in Los Angeles involves Rowe's efforts to "compel visitation" with the children.

He said Rowe was offered visitation rights with her children in return for her appearance in the video.

The prosecution contends Jackson conspired to hold the accuser's family captive to force them to make the videotape in order to rebut a damaging television documentary about Jackson.

One former Neverland employee is expected to testify that he saw Jackson's teenage accuser drunk at the pop star's estate. The prosecution claims Jackson gave the young boy alcohol in order to seduce him.
District Attorney Tom Sneddon told the court Monday he will not present testimony by a former Jackson security guard who faces robbery, kidnapping and other charges. He did not say why prosecutors will not call Christopher Carter, 25, who was recently arrested in Las Vegas.

Prosecutors also told the court they were offering immunity to Cynthia Montgomery, a travel agent who booked flights for Jackson, including a Nov. 20, 2003, flight on which Jackson was allegedly secretly videotaped as he traveled to Santa Barbara to surrender on the child molestation charges.

Montgomery told the court last week she would refuse to testify about anything that happened on that flight.

Attorney Robert Sanger said Jackson was a victim of criminal activity involving the taping but did not say what Montgomery's alleged role in the taping was. Sanger said the FBI is investigating the taping.

A source close to the defense tells CBS News that actor Macaulay Culkin, a likely first witness for Jackson, is getting cold feet, but they will subpoena him if necessary. He would be the first of a parade of celebrities — including Elizabeth Taylor and Jay Leno — who could turn the courthouse driveway into a red carpet affair.

Then the prosecution gets time for rebuttal, and CBS News has learned Sneddon is trying hard to convince the singer's 1993 accuser to take the stand then. His mother testified earlier this month.

Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in February or March 2003, giving the boy alcohol and conspiring to hold his family captive to get them to rebut a TV documentary in which Jackson appeared with the boy and said he allowed children to sleep in his bed. Jackson called the sleeping arrangement an innocent, non-sexual practice.