Michael Jackson paid out £134million to keep as many as 20 alleged sex abuse victims and their parents silent, lawyers have claimed.
Los Angeles Superior Court is expected to rule on Tuesday whether two two alleged victims cases can bring claims against the Thriller star’s estate.
If the judge agrees, damning evidence barred from the King of Pop’s original child sex abuse trial could be heard for the first time.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck claim they were both sexually abused by Jacko and are seeking unspecified amounts in punitive damages.
The pair brought their legal actions in 2013 and 2014 – after the statutory deadline – but hope Judge Mitchell Beckloff will allow them to proceed.
However, any payout would be dwarfed by the £134million lawyers claim that Jackson, who died in 2009, allegedly shelled out in order to keep silence.
Crucially, if Judge Beckloff finds in the pair’s favour, they would be able introduce a wealth of evidence excluded from the criminal proceedings against him in 2005 due to discovery rules in civil cases.
It would include graphic details of the alleged abuse but also how much each was paid to keep quiet.
A source close to their legal team said: “The judge during Jackson’s criminal case ruled much of the prosecution evidence could not be heard.
“They thought it was pivotal to the case and was crucial in Jackson receiving a not guilty verdict.
“The team thinks if Judge Beckloff allows their cases to proceed it will allow the evidence to be heard and prove beyond doubt he was guilty.”
Safechuck first met the singer in 1987, when he was eight years old.
He will testify Jackson repeatedly molested him a year and later during a tour.
The now 36-year-old also claims he was forced to marry the performer in a bizarre secret wedding ceremony after which Jackson gave him a marriage certificate and a wedding band as keepsakes and confirmation of their “undying love”.
Safechuck was one of two alleged victim Jacko’s sister LaToya referred to during a 1993 press conference in which she vowed to “not be a silent collaborator in my brother’s crimes”.
Robson claims Jackson first molested him when he was seven.
The 32-year-old previously told jurors at Jacko’s 2005 trial that although they shared a bed with for at least a year, the singer never touched him inappropriately.
He now claims he didn’t come forward until he started his own family after burying the “loathsome nature” of the abuse he says he suffered.
“I lived in silence and denial for 22 years,” Robson said.
Source: Mirror