Paris Jackson testifies by video in father's death trial as she recovers from suicide attempt
19 Jun 2013 12:01
The teenager appeared confident and articulate as she gave her evidence about her former nanny
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Paris Jackson’s evidence has been shown in the trial over her father’s death four years ago – as the teenager recovers in hospital from her recent suicide attempt.
The 15-year-old, who is suing AEG along with her grandmother and her siblings, was questioned under oath last October about her former nanny, Grace Rwaramba, - scroll down to see the video evidence.
AEG live lawyers played short clips of the troubled teenager’s deposition to the court – Paris can be seen speaking to the camera confidently about her former nanny.
It is thought Paris is still recovering in the UCLA Medical Center, the same hospital her father was rushed to before his death.
Later on Tuesday jurors heard from the superstar's personal chef Kai Chase who gave a unique insight into the home lives of Jackson's children during the final months of the singer's life and after his death.
Confident: Paris
Paris, she told the court, refuses to celebrate her birthday to preserve the memory of her 11th when Jackson hosted a private circus.
Ms Chase described the April 2009 birthday party for Paris that included a Cirque du Soleil-style show featuring men on stilts and a woman performing in a giant balloon, she said.
The employee helped decorate a room filled with posters and photos of the Thriller singer. His music was played throughout the party.
It was the last birthday party the 15-year-old had.
"Paris hasn't had any birthdays since. She hasn't wanted to celebrate since."
Paris evidence was played to the court while she recovers in hospital after overdosing on pills and self-harming.
Photos taken from TMZ Michael jackson with his daughter Paris
In the evidence she describes her former nanny's relationship wiith her father.
She said: "One time when me and my brother were really young, before Blanket was born. She would call the hotel and say she was his wife and they'd let her in, and he'd wake up and she'd be like in his bed.She was obsessed with him. That's what he told us...kinda freaky."
Ms Chase described the dramatic effect Jackson's death had on his children.
She said it has been replaced by a weight on eldest son Prince Michael Jackson's shoulders.
Youngest son Blanket, who remains home-schooled, wears a T-shirt with his father's image every Friday, she said.
Ms Chase recounted her interactions with Jackson, his children and her work with the singer's mother and children, for jurors hearing Katherine Jackson's negligent hiring case against concert promoter AEG Live.
The company denies all wrongdoing.
After weeks of testimony about Jackson's business dealings with AEG, Chase's testimony returned the trial's focus to the King of Pop and his offspring.
"At 16, the weight of the world is on his shoulders," Ms Chase said of Prince Jackson, who is trying to figure out girls and all the challenges adulthood brings.
Blanket has his older siblings to shield him from pain but had the least time to spend with his father.
"He never really had a time when it was father-son because he was so tiny," Ms Chase said.
The singer's only daughter seems to be having the hardest time, she added.
"Being daddy's little girl, Paris is devastated. She's devastated and lost."
