Katherine Jackson didn’t appear in court on Tuesday in the case against her nephew, Trent Jackson, in which she’s accusing him of elder abuse, theft and all sorts of scandalous manipulation.
You recall that Katherine filed for a permanent restraining order against Trent, who has been caring for her since Michael Jackson died in 2009. Katherine filed a declaration explaining how she believes Trent has stolen from her and committed elder abuse against her, something Trent has strongly denied.
Katherine is in London with family and has not been seen for months, but some of her children say she’s scared to come back to the U.S. because she’s afraid of Trent.
Trent believes Katherine is being manipulated by family members, including Jermaine Jackson, and that they are making up stories about him and Katherine may not have even signed the declaration.
On Tuesday, the judge ruled that Katherine must leave her daughter Janet Jackson’s London home and take the witness stand in California, NY Daily News reports.
During the first day of testimony in her restraining order trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Judge Rolf Treu said he wouldn’t accept a sworn statement from Katherine in place of her live appearance and cross-examination.
Her lawyer Joy Bass told the Daily News outside court that Katherine voluntarily traveled to the UK to be with daughter Janet Jackson, who welcomed her first child with husband Wissam Al Mana in early January.
“She went there to see the baby,” Bass said. “That’s her baby having a baby.”
Trent’s lawyer Ron Rale said he wants Katherine to appear in person because it would be a “lack of due process” if Trent isn’t allowed to cross-examine her.
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(Photo Source: AP)
