Macaulay Culkin Home Alone With Jackson
Source: Culkin plans to testify for Jackson
SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- Former child movie star Macaulay Culkin plans to testify on behalf of Michael Jackson in the singer's trial on child molestation charges, a source close to the case told CNN.
But Culkin's publicist, Michelle Bega, who said last month the actor had no plans to testify, would not confirm any change in his position.
"There is no change, and there is no comment," she said.
The testimony could rebut claims by former Jackson employees who say they saw the pop star inappropriately touch Culkin in the early 1990s when he was a frequent guest at Jackson's Neverland ranch.
Culkin, now 24, has denied that anything of a sexual nature took place between him and Jackson. In an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live" in May 2004, he defended the entertainer and described him as a friend.
"Nothing happened," Culkin said.
The trial judge has allowed prosecutors to present witnesses to support their contention that Jackson had a pattern of singling out and grooming young boys -- including Culkin -- for sexual abuse.
The evidence related to five boys, although only one of them actually testified. Allegations relating to the other four, including Culkin, came from third-party witnesses who said they saw inappropriate behavior.
Testimony on Culkin
Among the witnesses who testified about Jackson's relationship with Macaulay Culkin was Phillip LeMarque, a former chef at Neverland.
LeMarque testified that in 1991 he was "shocked" to see Jackson's hand shoved up Culkin's shorts when he walked in on them playing a video game in the middle of the night, when Culkin was 10 or 11.
At the time, LeMarque said he was delivering an order of french fries that Jackson had ordered.
"I almost dropped the french fries," he said.
LeMarque said he did not report what he saw to the police or anyone else at the time, "because nobody would ever believe" his story.
A former maid, Adrian McManus, also testified she once saw Jackson put his hand on Culkin's leg and buttocks and kiss him on the cheek while they were sitting together in Neverland's library.