The Bahraini prince accusing Michael Jackson of reneging on a multi-million-dollar contract took the stand in London's High Court today to be cross-examined by the King of Pop's legal team, whose client is expected to testify Monday.Sheik Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, 33, answered questions about his relationship and business dealings with Jackson, 50, on day three of the hearing, which could last up to 12 days.
Meanwhile, Jackson was summoned to appear in the London High Court next week, although his lawyers had argued that he was too ill to attend the proceedings and hoped he could testify via video link from Los Angeles.
But the prince's lawyers protested the claim, saying that the medical evidence was insufficient. And, in court today, Jackson's lawyer, Robert Englehart, said that Jackson was medically cleared to travel to London.
Jackson is expected to take the stand Monday at 2 p.m. local time. Cameras are banned in the courts of Britain.
The prince is suing Jackson to the tune of $7 million for what he alleges was Jackson's backing out of an agreement that was to have included work on an album, a screenplay and an autobiography.
Jackson's lawyer repeatedly pressed the prince about the pop star's mental condition at the time of their talks, asking if he believed Jackson was "emotionally vulnerable." Bin Hamad Al Khalifa disagreed, saying that Jackson was "composed" and "with it."
"Michael is very switched on," he said, also describing Jackson as a "fantastic businessman" and an intellectual.
Early questioning also surrounded the prince's relationship with Jackson's brother, Jermaine. Bin Hamad Al Khalifa said that Jermaine Jackson "was interested in doing music" and that the two were "planning to do a record."
Bin Hamad Al Khalifa's lawyers declined to speak to ABCNews, saying they could not comment during the hearings. The judge also made it clear that bin Hamad Al Khalifa was not permitted to speak to the media while the case is ongoing.
Bin Hamad Al Khalifa's dealings with Jermaine Jackson took place between late 2004 and early 2005, according to today's testimony. The prince reportedly paid for Jermaine Jackson's travel to and from Bahrain and purchased a Rolls Royce car for him in California. These expenses tallied nearly $450,000, and the prince acknowledged today that he never expected the money to be paid back.
But while the prince had hopes of going into business with Michael's older brother, the four songs he recorded with Jermaine Jackson were never released, he testified. He said that Jermaine Jackson also began to get sidetracked with other business interests.
During testimony on his relationship with Michael Jackson, the prince said that he and Jackson began by speaking on the phone. When the prince became interested in bringing Michael Jackson to his record label, 2 Seas Records, Jackson made his terms clear.
Recounting the conversation, the prince said, "If any brother or [Jackson] family member worked there [the record label], I'm not going to do the deal," referring to Jackson's comments.
Jackson and bin Hamad Al Khalifa had what was described in court today as "very involved" conversations about a potential musical collaboration, which doesn't amount to a binding agreement, Jackson's lawyers are arguing. These conversations took place while Jackson was facing trial on child molestation charges in 2005.
The prince constructed a recording studio after Jackson had "expressed interest in coming back into music," bin Hamad Al Khalifa said.
Bin Hamad Al Khalifa also provided $1 million to the King of Pop through Jackson's personal assistant, Grace Rwaramba, which Jackson understood to be a gift, according to testimony. But the prince thought otherwise.
"To me it was never seen as a gift," bin Hamad Al Khalifa told the High Court. "These payments were seen as helping Michael, and numerous times he told me he would pay me back."
