Jackson attends pre-trial hearing

Michael Jackson denies the charges against him

Pop star Michael Jackson has appeared in court to observe a pre-trial hearing in his child molestation case.

In the voluntary visit, Mr Jackson watched his lawyer question the Santa Barbara district attorney to try to prove evidence was obtained illegally.

Fans screamed as the star dressed in a white suit arrived by double-decker bus at the Santa Maria court in California.

He was accompanied by several members of his family. Mr Jackson has pleaded not guilty to 10 child abuse charges.

His parents, sisters LaToya and Janet, and brothers Jermaine and Tito were with the singer at the courthouse.

Mr Sneddon, I'm going to ask you not to spar with the attorney Judge Rodney Melville Jackson's latest day in court

In a packed courtroom, Mr Jackson's lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr questioned Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon for two hours over his investigations.

Mr Jackson's team is arguing that Mr Sneddon invaded the attorney-client relationship with a raid at the office of a private investigator who was working for the star's former attorney Mark Geragos.

Michael Jackson was accompanied by sisters LaToya and Janet

If Mr Jackson's lawyers are successful, any evidence gained from the office may be ruled inadmissible - and could mean prosecutors lose a central part of their case.

Heated exchange

In court Mr Sneddon testified that he had not known at the time that Mr Geragos had hired the investigator.

His exchanges with Mr Mesereau were heated at times, prompting the judge to warn: "Mr Sneddon, I'm going to ask you not to spar with the attorney."

Mr Sneddon was also the man who tried to bring charges against Mr Jackson in 1993.

The hearing came a day after Mr Jackson, 45, made a public visit to a Los Angeles church.

After a service at the First AME Church, the singer toured a church education centre and spoke to a class of 35 Sunday school students.

Michael Jackson made a high-profile church visit on Sunday

Asked by one girl if the children could visit his Neverland ranch, Mr Jackson, 45, replied: "You're welcome to come any time."

The pre-trial hearing could last a week, but Mr Jackson was only expected to attend the first day.

It was his third appearance in court since his arrest last November.

The crowd was much smaller than during his previous appearances, when thousands of fans and journalists turned up.

The star is currently free on $3m (£1.6m) bail. His trial is scheduled to start on 30 January 2005.