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Pop superstar Michael Jackson pleaded not guilty to charges of child molestation during his appearance at a California courthouse.
The self-styled King of Pop was strongly rebuked by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville for arriving 20 minutes late at the court in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara.
He was frisked by police before he entered the courtroom. Inside, he caused a further stir when he asked to go to the toilet and his entourage and some journalists followed him.
Jackson pleaded innocent to the charges and the judge set a pre-trial hearing for February 13.
He is charged with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine.
The 45-year-old has denied the allegations, made by a teenage cancer victim, calling them a "big lie".
Jackson left the court a full two hours later. He was accompanied by family members, including sister Janet, mother Katherine, father Joe and brother Jermaine.
Outside, hundreds of fans screamed and shouted their support.
Once police had struggled to get him through the mob to his black sports utility vehicle.
He had hundreds of fans in a frenzy as he was heaved on top of the vehicle to give a small dance and flash victory signs.
Jackson is now back at his Neverland home where he is being joined by the assembled. fans. His bodyguards handed out cards at the court inviting them to a party at the ranch.
Earlier, fans were selling T-shirts reading "Michael is 1000 per cent innocent," quoting Jackson's brother Jermaine, who spoke out for him this week.
An estimated 600 journalists were in the town to cover the story - making media coverage of the OJ Simpson case look restrained - but only 60 reporters are allowed into the court.
Television cameras were banned but journalists were able to watch the proceedings via a CCTV camera in the courtroom.
The case is one of the most sensational involving a celebrity in years.
It has taken a series of twists since November last year, when Jackson's ranch was searched and the star was arrested and later charged.
Soon after Jackson's arrest, doubts were raised about the credibility of his accuser.
According to legal papers, uncovered by American media, the boy told social workers that Jackson never abused him.
But just weeks later, Jackson spoke on US television and repeated his belief that it was acceptable to share a bed or bedroom with an unrelated child.
"If you're gonna be a paedophile, if you're gonna be Jack the Ripper, if you're gonna be a murderer, it's not a good idea. That, I'm not," he said.
He is currently free on £1.7 million bail and has surrendered his passport.
The self-styled King of Pop was strongly rebuked by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville for arriving 20 minutes late at the court in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara.
He was frisked by police before he entered the courtroom. Inside, he caused a further stir when he asked to go to the toilet and his entourage and some journalists followed him.
Jackson pleaded innocent to the charges and the judge set a pre-trial hearing for February 13.
He is charged with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine.
The 45-year-old has denied the allegations, made by a teenage cancer victim, calling them a "big lie".
Jackson left the court a full two hours later. He was accompanied by family members, including sister Janet, mother Katherine, father Joe and brother Jermaine.
Outside, hundreds of fans screamed and shouted their support.
Once police had struggled to get him through the mob to his black sports utility vehicle.
He had hundreds of fans in a frenzy as he was heaved on top of the vehicle to give a small dance and flash victory signs.
Jackson is now back at his Neverland home where he is being joined by the assembled. fans. His bodyguards handed out cards at the court inviting them to a party at the ranch.
Earlier, fans were selling T-shirts reading "Michael is 1000 per cent innocent," quoting Jackson's brother Jermaine, who spoke out for him this week.
An estimated 600 journalists were in the town to cover the story - making media coverage of the OJ Simpson case look restrained - but only 60 reporters are allowed into the court.
Television cameras were banned but journalists were able to watch the proceedings via a CCTV camera in the courtroom.
The case is one of the most sensational involving a celebrity in years.
It has taken a series of twists since November last year, when Jackson's ranch was searched and the star was arrested and later charged.
Soon after Jackson's arrest, doubts were raised about the credibility of his accuser.
According to legal papers, uncovered by American media, the boy told social workers that Jackson never abused him.
But just weeks later, Jackson spoke on US television and repeated his belief that it was acceptable to share a bed or bedroom with an unrelated child.
"If you're gonna be a paedophile, if you're gonna be Jack the Ripper, if you're gonna be a murderer, it's not a good idea. That, I'm not," he said.
He is currently free on £1.7 million bail and has surrendered his passport.
