Prosecutors hoping to send Michael Jackson to jail have been dealt another blow to their case - the mother of the pop star's child molestation accuser has allegedly been using her son's cancer to get money.

American TV scandal show CELEBRITY JUSTICE reports the mother solicited charitable contributions for the boy's medical care when all of the bills were covered by insurance.

The information comes from an extensive investigation by California local newspaper the MID VALLEY NEWS.

Editor CONNIE KEENAN, who ran an article on the family, tells Celebrity Justice, "My readers were used. My staff was used. It's sickening."

The editor says the boy's mother approached a reporter for the paper in 2000 and explained her son was battling cancer.

Keenan adds, "She pleaded her case that her son needed all sorts of medical care and they had no financial means to provide it."

The community paper agreed to run a story soliciting donations. Keenan now admits she regrets the decision: "She's a shark. She was after money."

Celebrity Justice reporters have learned the boy's medical expenses were fully covered by his father's insurance plan.

Keenan recalls the mother called to demand another story after she was unimpressed when Mid Valley News readers raised over $900 (GBP473.70) in three weeks. The editor decided not to run a second article.

03/01/2005 21:09