Jacko Witness Claims Harassment by Defense

Thursday January 06, 2005 08:00 AM EST

Jacko Witness Claims Harassment by Defense | Michael Jackson

Pool/ABACA

As the Jan. 31 start date of Michael Jackson's child-molestation trial looms, a Hollywood comedy club owner who reputedly introduced the star to his young accuser held a news conference Wednesday to accuse the singer's defense team of harassing him.

Capping his conference, Laugh Factory proprietor Jamie Masada was served with a fresh subpoena from Team Jackson, the Associated Press reports.

Masada – who is also a witness in the case – accused Jackson attorney Brian Oxman of "unethical" behavior by having investigators call him and visit the homes of several comedians "who have been doing my comedy camp." Jackson's accuser had participated in Masada's comedy camp for underprivileged children and was battling cancer when Jackson met him at the suggestion of Masada.

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At the camp, such comics as Chris Tucker, George Lopez and others help children create standup routines.

Masada produced a Dec. 28 letter in which Oxman reportedly states that the defense would seek a court order against Masada if he ignored a subpoena for records and a request that he appear in court on Jan. 31.

As for the new subpoena, which was produced by an unidentified man who handed it to Masada and quickly left, Oxman tells AP he cannot comment because of Judge Rodney Melville's gag order in the case.

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