Jackson defense opens case after losing bid for acquittal

Santa Maria, California — Michael Jackson’s lawyers opened their case in his molestation and conspiracy trial, calling a young man who said he repeatedly slept in the pop star’s bedroom without incident as a boy and denied allegations that he took a shower with the singer.

The defense opened Thursday after Judge Rodney Melville denied its motion for an acquittal. Jackson’s attorneys argued the state failed to prove its case, and that prosecution witnesses had “a tendency to self-destruct” on the stand.

The first defense witness, dancer and film director Wade J. Robson, said he had known Jackson since age 5 and stayed at his friend’s Neverland ranch more than 20 times. He slept in Jackson’s bedroom on most of those visits, he said.

The two played video games, watched movies, talked and sometimes had pillow fights, but Robson, 22, said Jackson never touched him in an inappropriate or sexual way.

The prosecution rested Wednesday after calling more than 80 witnesses in an attempt to prove Jackson fondled a 13-year-old cancer survivor, plied him with alcohol, and conspired to detain him and his family so they would rebut a damaging documentary by Martin Bashir in which Jackson said he let children sleep in his bed.

People picks hot young stars

New York — Who are the young stars of film, TV and music?

Teen People’s list of the “25 Hottest Stars Under 25” includes Alicia Keys, Ciara, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Jesse McCartney and Justin Timberlake. The list is featured in the magazine’s latest issue, on newsstands today.

Other stars making the eighth annual installment of the list: Jessica Alba, Britney Spears, Jake Gyllenhaal, Elijah Wood, Lindsay Lohan, Natalie Portman, Destiny’s Child, rapper T.I. and the cast of Fox’s “The O.C.” — minus Benjamin McKenzie, who is 26.

Timberlake, 24, has been on the list five times since 2000. What’s keeping him hot? “Helping make Snoop Dogg’s ‘Signs’ a hit and his role in the film ‘Edison,'” the magazine said.

As for Lohan, star of the upcoming movie “Herbie: Fully Loaded,” Teen People said: “She’s bounced back from controversy to remain one of the hottest stars around.”

Birthdays

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Willie Mays is 74. Rock singer Bob Seger is 60. TV game show host Tom Bergeron is 50. Actor George Clooney is 44.