Jacko calls more stars to defence

Delays to Michael Jackson's abuse trial were not a calculated attempt to slow it down, a judge insisted yesterday.

The singer really had been ill with flu, said Rodney Melville as Jackson returned to court.

'I talked to his doctor,' he added. 'I would not let anyone take advantage of us.'

The trial was halted last Tuesday when Jackson was taken to hospital. An earlier delay was caused when a lawyer's sister died.

Meanwhile, more celebrities were added to the defence witness list yesterday - including Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin, actor Eddie Murphy and singer Smokey Robinson. Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old cancer patient at his Neverland ranch.