Jackson demands his day in court over 'disgusting and false' charges Singer claims trial will acquit him of child sex offences

Jackson is charged with sexually abusing a young boy who was suffering from cancer.

Intense media interest has turned the trial into one of the most eagerly anticipated criminal cases in decades, and alleged details of the charges have been leaked to the media, raising fears that the singer's chance of receiving a fair hearing has been jeopardised.

In a video statement posted on his website yesterday, which was approved by the court, Jackson said: "In the last few weeks, a large amount of ugly, malicious information has been released into the media about me. The information is disgusting and false. Please keep an open mind and let me have my day in court.

"I deserve a fair trial like every otherAmerican citizen. I will be acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told."

Although the trial begins today, it could be another month before any evidence against the pop singer is heard as there is a pool of 750 potential jurors to select from.

Jackson, 46, denies supplying the 13-year-old boy - who has been given the name John Doe in the indictment - with alcohol and molesting him at Neverland, his ranch in California.

Allegations and rumours about Jackson's private life have circulated widely since his arrest in November 2003.

The trial could last for five months and, if found guilty, Jackson faces a maximum 21 years in prison.

While the judge has ruled that court sessions will not be broadcast on television, BSkyB and its US counterpart plan to stage daily re-enactments.

Jackson's private life was investigated after the screening of the documentary Living With Michael Jackson, presented by Martin Bashir, the British journalist, and broadcast in February 2003.

In it, he defended the practice of letting boys sleep in his bedroom with him. Nine months later, police raided Neverland and subsequently brought charges against Jackson. He turned himself in to the Santa Barbara sheriff after the issue of an arrest warrant and was released on pounds-1.8m bail.

It has been argued that it will be impossible for Jackson to receive a fair hearing because of the allegations that have been made against him by many newspapers and broadcasters in the US.

Before the trial got under way, court papers and transcripts were leaked which claim Jackson lavished gifts on young boys and their parents to win their trust before giving the boys alcohol and molesting them.

The prosecution case - which will be presented by Tom Sneddon, the Santa Barbara district attorney whose father is originally from Glasgow - is expected to be based on the evidence from Jackson's alleged victim, who is now 15, his brother, sister and mother.

The credibility of the prosecution witnesses will form the keystone of the defence case, and Tom Mesereau, Jackson's lawyer, will argue the boy and his family colluded to make up the allegations in order to extort money from Jackson.

According to legal papers, the family has launched a further two abuse-related lawsuits in the last year, winning a pounds-70,000 settlement in one case.

Evidence given to a grand jury by Jackson's alleged victim was leaked to the American channel ABC News. The boy claims he was lying on a bed with Jackson when he spoke to him about masturbation and began "rubbing" him.

The channel also said it had seen documents which claim Jackson showed the boy pornography on a computer. It has also been alleged that Jackson supplied the boy and his brother with alcohol.

In March 2004, a grand jury began hearing evidence in secret and, after 13 days, decided there was enough evidence for Jackson to be tried. The following month, Jackson pleaded not guilty to a 10-count indictment of child molestation and conspiracy involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. Jackson has maintained his innocence from the outset.

THE KEY PLAYERS The defendant Michael Jackson, 46, could well be the most prominent person to be tried in a criminal court.

Since his debut with the Jackson 5, alongside four of his eight siblings, the singer has won eight Grammys and had hits including Billy Jean, Beat It and Bad.

The star lives at his Californian Neverland ranch.

By 1991, his facial features had radically changed with a series of nose jobs. He had permanent eye-liner tattooed around his eyes.

He blamed a medical condition when his face became a milky white colour.

Jackson drew sharp criticism when he dangled his baby son Prince Michael II, born to an unidentified mother, from a Berlin hotel balcony in 2002.

He had a 19-month marriage to Elvis's daughter Lisa Marie Presley before marrying nurse Debbie Rowe. The couple had two children before splitting in 1999.

Rodney Melville, the judge On the bench since 1987, he has a stern, but fair reputation. The 63-year-old has served in the Superior Court for 13 years and has extensive experience in criminal, civil, family law and probate matters.

He grew up in San Diego, was a submariner, then attended San Diego State and California universities. He is married with two children.

Jackson has already attracted his wrath after arriving 20 minutes late for his plea hearing. Judge Melville said it was an "insult to the court".

Tom Sneddon, the prosecutor Also 63, he has been the Santa Barbara County district attorney for 22 years, but plans to retire next year. He is known for being sharp-tongued and tenacious.

He was nicknamed "Mad Dog" early in his career, but the years are said to have mellowed him.

The native Californian, who has nine children, was forced to drop child molestation charges against Jackson 10 years ago after the boy in that case accepted a pounds-10m payout. He fought to ensure erotic material, seized from Jackson's ranch, be admitted as evidence.

Tom Mesereau, the defence He replaced Mark Geragos as lead defence counsel in April.

Mesereau is a former boxer and his clients have included Mike Tyson. He attended Harvard University, the London School of Economics and Hastings College of the Law in California.

His courtroom style is straightforward. He is expected to portray Jackson as a harmless character who donates huge sums to charity. In a statement Mesereau claims the singer believes "that children are the true example of God's beauty, innocence and purity".