Jacko's mum: He's no child abuser

Michael Jackson's mother said yesterday she was '100 per cent' certain her son did not abuse children.

Katherine Jackson believes that 'people with dirty minds' are to blame for assuming there is anything wrong in sharing a room with children.

The mother-of-nine, who fears her son will not have a fair trial, added: 'I can't sleep thinking about what these wicked people might try to do to him.'

She said the pop star had looked her in the eye and told her: 'I didn't do this.'

Choking back tears, she added: 'I believe that for one reason - I know his character. He loves children. You don't molest anything that you love.

'He's different because he is a good person. If my son was Wacko, he wouldn't be where he is today.' The interview was aired in the US last night.

Jury selection at Jackson's trial has been postponed until Thursday after a member of his legal team was hit by family illness.

The singer, 46, denies plying a boy of 13 with alcohol and molesting him.

Meanwhile, his 1983 short film Thriller has been voted Britain's favourite pop video of all time in a poll by Channel 4.