Police take Michael Jackson items

Mr Jackson appeared in court in California on Friday

Police have seized items of Michael Jackson memorabilia for possible use in his trial on child abuse charges.

The items, including a pair of Calvin Klein briefs, were secured by police in New Jersey in March, said Robert Honecker, a prosecutor in California.

They belonged to a man who had acquired them under a legal settlement with the Jackson family several years ago.

On Friday Mr Jackson, 45, appeared in court in California and pleaded not guilty to 10 child molestation charges.

A grand jury has now decided there is enough evidence for him to face a trial.

Request

He is facing a fresh charge of conspiracy to abduct a child. The new conspiracy count includes 28 allegations of "overt acts" including false imprisonment and extortion.

Mr Honecker said the memorabilia items had been taken following a request from the district attorney in Santa Barbara County, California, where Mr Jackson lives.

Owner Henry Vaccaro had recently contacted Santa Barbara investigators to let them know what items he had in his possession.

"Mr Vaccaro was very co-operative," said Mr Honecker.

A second police visit to his warehouse had also uncovered some handwritten notes and photographs. All the items had since been sent to the Santa Barbara prosecutor's office.

Last month Mr Jackson's lawyer said he would sue for the return of memorabilia items sold by Mr Vaccaro to a European buyer.

Mr Vaccaro had been awarded them after a bankruptcy legal case. He admitted he had already sold the goods on for more than £792,000.

Mr Jackson's lawyer, Brian Wolf, had said the possessions should never have been included in the goods given to Mr Vaccaro as part of the bankruptcy settlement.