SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Michael Jackson may not take the stand at his kiddie-sex trial, a rep revealed yesterday. “Michael wants the world to know that he did not molest any children,” spokeswoman Raymone Bain said.
But while “he would not be opposed to testifying if the defense attorneys wanted him to . . . he would not testify if they didn’t want him to,” she said.
Bain also suggested that the accusations of sex abuse against the 46-year-old singer may lead him to change his ways, mainly cuddling in bed with young boys.
When asked if Jackson would stop snoozing with kids, Bain cited a previous statement by the singer in which “he indicated that he had learned a lot [from the case]. He said he’s never going to put himself in this position again.”
She added that at this point, Jackson only wants to get back to “making people happy and sharing his music.”
The spokeswoman’s comments came as Jackson’s camp warned court officials they might need extra security to deal with a key defense witness this week – Macaulay Culkin.
Court reps said they were told by the singer’s lawyers to expect the onetime child actor and Jacko playmate to testify as early as tomorrow.
Culkin’s appearance would likely create a media circus as he takes the stand, presumably to deny he was ever molested by the Gloved One.
Several disgruntled ex-workers at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch have testified that the former “Home Alone” star, now 24, was one of several boys who were sexually abused by Jackson.
Of course, security would only be a problem if Culkin testifies. His spokeswoman yesterday refused to say whether he would.
And “I’m not completely sold that he’ll [Culkin] be here,” said legal eagle Stan Goldman of Fox News Channel. “Last week, we saw the best reason why you wouldn’t want to testify.”
Goldman was referring to defense testimony from two other former Jackson kiddie pals who, the ex-employees said, were groped by Jacko.
The witnesses denied being molested. But then they and their relatives underwent an embarrassing cross-examination by the prosecution that openly questioned why any family would allow young boys to sleep in the same bed with an older man.
Jackson is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy at Neverland in 2003. The defense yesterday paraded before jurors current and previous workers who denied they ever saw anything untoward.