Judge allows testimony by Michael Jackson’s ex-wife

The judge in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial said he will allow the mother of two of the pop star’s children to testify as a prosecution witness.

Prosecutors want Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe to tell jurors that she was compelled to appear on a videotape praising Jackson as a good father and a humanitarian.

Prosecutors say Rowe did the interview under duress, having been told by Jackson associates that if she did not do it she would risk losing her visitation rights with her children, daughter Paris and son Prince Michael.

The defense objected on grounds that the testimony was part of a prosecution “desperation” tactic at the end of its case and had no relevance to the charges against Jackson.

In addition, the defense said that if Rowe testified they would seek to present the entire three hours of her video interview with Jackson associates as well as a tape recording she made secretly.

Defence Attorney Robert Sanger denied there were any threats to her during what he called “a tremendous amount of taped material.”

“I just plain don’t see the relevance to these proceedings,” he said.

Prosecutor Ron Zonen said Rowe would tell jurors that she engaged in a “highly scripted interview and that the incentive was to suggest she would have visitation with her children if she did this.”

Zonen said this would corroborate the testimony of the mother of the Jackson’s young accuser who testified she also was pressured to appear in a video and speak from a script.