Los Angeles, Nov 14: The beleaguered "King of Pop" Michael Jackson took on a new starring role in a courtroom, to defend himself against a 21.2 million dollar fraud and breach of contract lawsuit.
Jackson yesterday gave evidence in a trial brought by his longtime concert promoter Marcel Avram, who is suing him for allegedly illegally cancelling two millennium concerts he had signed up to play.
The usually-gloved superstar received a celebrity welcome as he arrived at a courtroom near the California city of Santa Barbara in a black and silver limousine preceded by a police escort.
Wearing a white surgical mask over his mouth and a red jacket, Jackson waved as scores of fans brandishing "Free Michael" placards cheered him as he stepped from his stretched van surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards.
Inside the courtroom, however, Jackson spoke softly, answering only "yes" or "no" to questions put to him by lawyers after he was called as a hostile witness in the trial.



Avram, who has promoted Jackson since 1972, claims Jackson cancelled new year concerts in Sydney and Honolulu after notching up "dismal" ticket sales for two earlier concert appearances.



"Michael Jackson's decision not to perform at the millennium concerts came as a shock to Avram who had for many months expended much time and money," the suit said.



The suit claims Israeli citizen Avram -- after advancing the singer 11.2 million dollars for the concerts -- "was left to explain Michael Jackson's erratic behaviour -- and to pay all of his bills."



Bureau Report