Jackson lawyers dismiss new claim
Pop singer Michael Jackson's lawyers have dismissed fresh child abuse claims as a "malicious" smear campaign.
They say the new allegations are aimed at damaging Mr Jackson's right to a fair trial in existing abuse charges.
Police in Los Angeles are investigating a fresh allegation of abuse against a young boy in the late 1980s.
In November, Mr Jackson, 45, pleaded innocent to seven separate charges stemming from sex abuse accusations made by a young boy.
"This appears to be a malicious attempt to undermine Mr Jackson's right to a fair hearing on the charges presently pending," lawyers Benjamin Brafman and Mark Geragos said in a statement.
"We have to question the timing and purpose of this 20-year-old false allegation being raised at this time.
"We believe that this smear campaign is driven by money-hungry lawyers, seeking to capitalise on Mr Jackson's current legal situation," they added.
Investigation
On Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department said it launched a new investigation into Jackson after new allegations that he abused a child around 15 years ago.
In a statement, the department said: "The victim alleges the acts took place in the City of Los Angeles in the late 1980's.
"The Department's Juvenile Division, Child Protection Section, is currently investigating the allegations. No further details of the investigation will be released."
Mr Jackson is already facing seven counts of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 and two counts of plying the boy with alcohol in order to seduce him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...ic/3628351.stm