Jackson 'praised by boy's mother'

Michael Jackson denies all charges against him

The mother of the boy who accuses Michael Jackson of molesting him called the singer an "angel", a witness has told his trial in California.

Casting assistant Azja Pryor said Janet Arvizo was keen to take part in a video to promote Mr Jackson after Martin Bashir's damaging documentary on him.

"She was very anxious to tell the world this beautiful friendship was nothing more than they saw," Ms Pryor said.

Mr Jackson denies charges of child abuse and conspiracy to kidnap.

Asked how Mrs Arvizo - whose son Gavin is at the centre of the case - spoke of Mr Jackson, Ms Pryor said: "It was something to the effect of what a great man he is. He is an angel. His love is great."

Ms Pryor - who met Gavin, then 13, when he had cancer - also said Mrs Arvizo had been looking forward to a proposed trip to Brazil, and had complained that her family was being kept away from the singer by two German associates of Mr Jackson.

Broke down

Ms Pryor's testimony contrasts with prosecution claims that Mr Jackson's aides were plotting to whisk the family to Brazil following Martin Bashir's documentary, in which the singer admitted to sharing his bed with children.

When Mrs Arvizo testified in the trial, she spoke out against "the Germans", and said they were conspiring with Mr Jackson to hold the family captive.

Ms Pryor broke down and cried when she talked about the Arvizo family, describing how she met them at a Hollywood comedy club.

Larry King was turned away by the judge

She and her boyfriend, actor Chris Tucker, took the children on outings and Ms Pryor said that while Ms Arvizo would talk to her for hours by telephone, she never complained to her about Mr Jackson.

But she smiled as she told Mr Jackson's attorney, Thomas Mesereau, that Mrs Arvizo never told her she had tried to escape from Neverland.

"It's Neverland. I don't know who would ever want to escape Neverland," she said.

Video tour

Judge Rodney Melville allowed the defence to show the jury a video tour of Mr Jackson's Neverland ranch.

Beside the ranch's park rides and animals, the video showed numerous clocks, contradicting prosecution claims that the Arvizo family were not able to keep track of time while Mr Jackson allegedly held them against their will.

District attorney Tom Sneddon opposed the video's screening, calling much of it "propaganda".

One scene showed a note written on a blackboard by one of Mr Jackson's children, reading: "I love you daddy."

CNN talk show host Larry King, who was due to testify at the abuse trial of pop singer Michael Jackson, was turned away by the judge earlier on Thursday.

Judge Rodney Melville ruled his testimony was not relevant.

Mr King had been expected to say that a lawyer who represented the family of Michael Jackson's accuser had expressed doubts about their credibility.