Jackson accuser family 'coerced'

Jackson denies charges including child abuse and kidnapping

The mother of Michael Jackson's accuser has told how her family was forced into praising the singer in a video to rebut a damaging documentary about the star.

Testifying for a second day, Janet Arvizo said the singer's aides planned to whisk her family to Brazil after they appeared in the programme.

She told the Santa Maria court she was warned her parents and boyfriend would be killed if she did not co-operate.

Michael Jackson denies 10 charges, including child abuse and kidnapping.

If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

'Threatened'

Mrs Arvizo said that after the documentary was broadcast in Britain, Michael Jackson's aides held her and her family at the star's Neverland Ranch and planned to fly them to Brazil.

I was confused, I was sad, so basically I was acting Janet Arvizo Mother of Michael Jackson's accuser

She said one of Michael Jackson's bodyguards warned her parents and boyfriend "were going to be killed" if she did not acquiesce.

The trip did not take place, but Mrs Arvizo said she and her family were coerced into making a video depicting Michael Jackson in a positive light to try to clear his name.

Mrs Arvizo said the singer's associates coached her to praise the star.

In the video, which has never been broadcast but has been shown to the jury, Mrs Arvizo repeatedly describes Michael Jackson as a "wonderful father" to his children.

She told the court she her family was kept up all night during the making of the video.

"I was confused, I was sad, so basically I was acting," she said.

'Father figure'

Mrs Arvizo said that after the airing of the British documentary, she was interviewed by child welfare officials investigating Michael Jackson's relationship with her son, then 13 years old.

She said the singer's aides forced her to record the meeting surreptitiously, during which she again referred to the star as a father figure.

"I had to [say that]," Mrs Arvizo told the court. "I was monitored by those people".

She said that before the interview, one of Michael Jackson's associates warned her that if she "put Michael in a bad light, that they knew where my parents lived".

Michael Jackson's lawyers have previously tried to discredit Mrs Arvizo as a liar who preyed on celebrities.

On Wednesday, the judge, Rodney Melville, said she did not have to answer questions relating to claims she received benefit payments to which she was not entitled.