Jackson's alcohol charge

Showbiz

09:30 02 June 2005

Michael Jackson is set to be charged with supplying alcohol to a minor -which means he could face a year in prison even if he is cleared of sexually abusing his teenage 'victim'.

The eccentric singer was told by Judge Rodney Melville at his child molestation trial that he is to be charged with the lesser offence - rather than the original accusation of intoxicating a minor with alcohol in order to abuse him.

The new misdemeanour charge carries a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail.

Jurors only have to accept that Jackson, 46, gave his teenage accuser wine, which he allegedly named "Jesus juice", to find him guilty.

During the trial, Jackson's accuser claimed, both on the witness stand and in a videotaped police interview, that he was given alcohol by the pop legend on numerous occasions at the star's Neverland home.

The judge was expected to outline the change in the charge to the jury yesterday (01.06.05).

Jackson denies all 10 charges against him.

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