MICHAEL JACKSON’S former wife and the mother of two of his children is being lined up as a star witness for the prosecution in the singer’s child sex abuse trial.

Debbie Rowe first met Mr Jackson when she worked as a nurse and receptionist for the dermatologist who treated his skin problems. They married in 1996 and divorced three years later, with Mr Jackson keeping custody of the children after promising Ms Rowe $1 million (£531,000) a year and a house in Beverly Hills.

Ms Rowe, 37, has since launched a separate lawsuit to win back her children, Prince Michael, 7, and Paris Michael, 6. Mr Jackson, 46, went on to have a third child, Prince Michael II, with an anonymous surrogate mother. The toddler became famous when Mr Jackson dangled him out of a hotel window.

As jury selection proceeds ahead of schedule, with the pool of potential jurors whittled down to about 250, attention is focusing on the witness list. In court, Mr Jackson is expected to argue that Tom Sneddon, the Santa Barbara district attorney, has a grudge against him, and that his accu-ser is simply trying to extort money from him. He is also likely to portray Ms Rowe’s testimony as revenge for the singer allegedly halting her $1 million a year alimony payout. Ms Rowe has previously defended Mr Jackson in public.

The next stage begins on Monday, when jurors will be questioned by the defence and the prosecution. Eventually the judge will end up with a panel of 12 jurors and eight stand-ins. So far about 430 residents of Santa Maria, where the trial is being held, have volunteered to be screened, even though it could take several months out of their lives. Residents of Santa Maria, a poor farming town, earn an average salary of only $13,750.

Some legal analysts have predicted that jury selection alone, in this case, could take as long as nine weeks. Mr Jackson has pleaded not guilty to molesting a 13-year-old cancer patient at his Neverland ranch.

The alleged victim, Gavin Arvizo, now 15, is expected to take the stand. His parents, who have been accused by Mr Jackson of greed and extortion, are also likely to do so.

Jordy Chandler, who made a sexual abuse complaint against Mr Jackson in 1993, is also expected to testify. Mr Jackson settled the case with Mr Chandler, who was 13 at the time, for an amount estimated between $15 million and $40 million.

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