Bashir A Government Witness In Jacko Trial

JANUARY 11--The British journalist whose controversial 2003 Michael Jackson documentary helped trigger a criminal probe of the King of Pop has been subpoenaed to testify as a prosecution witness at the entertainer's upcoming criminal trial. The government's bid to get Martin Bashir on the stand was disclosed this afternoon in court filings unsealed by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville. In one of those documents, Melville termed Bashir a 'necessary material witness' with regard to the production, editing, and broadcast of his devastating documentary 'Living with Michael Jackson.' During that program, Jackson spoke about sharing his Neverland Ranch bedroom with various boys and was filmed cuddling with the teenager who has accused him of molestation. According to the unsealed material, Bashir was served with a subpoena January 4 in New York, where he now works as a correspondent for the ABC news magazine '20/20.' One unsealed document, a copy of which you'll find below, describes the Santa Barbara District Attorney's anticipated travel arrangements for Bashir. According to the December 21 declaration by Shamra Limon, a D.A.'s victim/witness assistant, prosecutors want Bashir to arrive in Santa Maria on March 1, and estimate that he may spend ten days (travel included) on the prosecution's dime. (2 pages)