Five years after the death of Michael Jackson new allegations of child abuse have cropped up against him.
A man from Los Angeles alleges that the pop legend sexually abused him as a child in 1988 during the 'Bad' tour. The court documents show that the alleged victim, James Safechuck, is seeking damages from Jackson's estate.
According to the allegations, Jackson abused him on at least 100 occasions over a four-year period after the two appeared in a Pepsi commercial when Safechuck was 10-years-old, reports Agence France-Presse.
Howard Weitzman, an attorney for Jackson's estate, said Safechuck previously testified that Jackson never touched him inappropriately, reports TMZ. Weitzman also told the celebrity website that the lawsuit was filed well beyond the 20-year statute of limitations.
The attorneys of Safechuck said that Jackson "brainwashed" him into believing the abuses were "acts of love." The filings also stated that Safechuck regularly shared the 'Thriller' star's bed and was sexually abused until he reached puberty.
"Mr Safechuck's request to file a late claim against the Jackson Estate so he can recover money from Michael's beneficiary will hopefully be rejected," Weitzman said. "This is a person that made his claim five years after Michael died, more than 20 years after the incidents supposedly happened and has given sworn testimony that Michael never did anything inappropriate to him."
Safechuck said that his relationship ultimately "tapered off" when he turned 17. When he was around 25, Safechuck alleges that Jackson contacted him again. Jackson asked him to testify on his behalf in another criminal sexual abuse case. But, upon refusal, Jackson "got angry and threatened him," reports People magazine.
Jackson died June 25, 2009, after being given an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. He previously faced various child sexual abuse charges. However, he was cleared of the charges at a 2005 trial in California. He paid $15 million in settlement in 1994 over allegations involving another child.
In the Safechuck case, a hearing has been scheduled in Los Angeles for September 4.
