Wade Robson and James Safechuck detailed their allegations against the late King of Pop in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, and have spent years embroiled in legal action against Jackson’s estate.
A trial date has been set for two men who allege they were sexually abused by Michael Jackson as children.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck detailed their allegations against the late King of Pop in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, and have spent years embroiled in legal action against Jackson’s estate – which has consistently denied their molestation allegations.
Now, a Los Angeles County judge has set a trial date for February 14, 2028, according to Rolling Stone.
The civil trial had initially been scheduled for November 2027.
A source told People that the change in date, and delay, was “nothing unusual”, and had just come about because of some “delays in the discovery”.
Choreographer Robson alleged that Jackson began sexually abusing him when he was seven, and said it continued for seven years, while Safechuck claimed the singer’s abuse of him began in Paris in 1988 when he was 10, and continued for four years until 1992.
Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges following a trial in 2005 and he always denied claims of inappropriate behaviour prior to his death in 2009. Representatives of his estate have continued to deny claims of sexual abuse following the singer’s passing.
While Dan Reed, who directed Leaving Neverland and Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson, said he fears fans of the superstar will never believe he could ever have done anything wrong.
He told Variety: “Look, the true believers are always going to be true believers. You could show them a video of Jackson molesting a child and there’s no amount of evidence that would suffice to change what’s almost a religious view. They’re part of a cult. And I really don’t expect people to stop listening to Michael Jackson’s music.”
Jonathan Steinsapir, attorney for the estate of Michael Jackson, told People in April 2023: “We remain fully confident that Michael is innocent of these allegations, which are contrary to all credible evidence and independent corroboration, and which were only first made years after Michael’s death. “We trust that the truth will ultimately prevail with Michael’s vindication yet again. Michael Jackson himself said, ‘Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons’.”
Trial date set for Michael Jackson abuse accusers
