ABC News Feb. 25, 2005 -- On the eve of trial, a mystery witness has emerged in the Michael Jackson case and will be deposed by both the prosecution and defense in a rare weekend session at noon Saturday in Los Angeles.
ABC News has been told exclusively by sources in the case that the witness is a paralegal who worked for the attorney representing the accuser's mother when their family sued J.C. Penney and won a $137,500 settlement in October 2001.
These sources say the paralegal has claimed to the Jackson defense team that Jane Doe, as the accuser's mother is known in court papers to protect her son's anonymity, lied under oath and fabricated the charges against J.C. Penney security guards.
According to these sources, the paralegal has alleged to the defense team that the bruises Jane Doe said were inflicted by the guards were actually perpetrated by someone else.
And, they say, the paralegal claimed to the defense team that Jane Doe told her she coached her son to lie during his deposition against J.C. Penney.
The defense said today in open court the mystery witness speaks directly to the heart of this case. The defense said that the witness will testify that Jane Doe lied under oath during a civil case, and lied for money.
A source close to Jane Doe tells ABC News that she will vehemently deny any allegation that she lied or fabricated evidence in any way in the J.C. Penney case.
Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville said he would review the deposition on Monday morning before opening statements in the trial. Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a cancer patient at his Neverland ranch and plying the boy, who was then 13, with alcohol. The singer has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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