Jacko 'is a sociopath'

Michael Jackson's ex-wife told police that the pop superstar was a 'sociopath' who considered his children 'possessions', a court heard yesterday.

Debbie Rowe allegedly made the remarks to a detective probing claims of child molestation against the singer.

Rowe also admitted that statements she made praising Jackson in a 'rebuttal video' were false, jurors heard.

She allegedly told officers that she and her ex-husband agreed she would speak only positively about him during a video response to a damaging documentary, the court in Santa Maria, California, was told. Prosecutors are hoping to impeach Rowe, who surprised them by praising the singer as a 'good father' during her evidence last month.

Later yesterday, the court was told that Jackson was in a 'cash crisis' shortly before the alleged abuse took place.

Accountant John O'Bryan said the singer had just £20,000 in the bank in February 2003 - with debts of almost £158million. He added that Jackson was regularly spending £10million to £ 20million a year more than he was earning.

'It was a significant amount of expenditure over what was being made,' said Mr O'Bryan, who was asked to review the records by prosecutors.

'There appeared to be an ongoing cash crisis, simply because there was not enough cash to pay bills.'

Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2003, giving him alcohol and conspiring to hold the accuser's family captive. He denies all charges. The case continues.