The billion-selling, crotch-grabbing alleged child molester checks himself into the nearest emergency room, with the world’s press in tow.

Since Mr Jackson’s trial began, the press, fans and public have all speculated about how the eccentric star would cope with a strict court schedule.

Yesterday, it seemed as though they had their answer: he couldn’t. On the way to the court from his Neverland Ranch, Mr Jackson apparently became so ill with a bout of flu that he instructed his driver to take him to hospital.

Chuck Merrill, a doctor at the Marian Medical Centre, confirmed that the singer had a “flu-like illness with some vomiting”.

Randy Jackson said last night his brother had been ill since the weekend and would spend the night in hospital. “I told him not to come to court, but he insisted on being in court Monday,” he said.

After discussions with the prosecution and an emergency room doctor, Judge Rodney Melville told the 100 jury candidates in court that Mr Jackson would take “three to four days” to recover.

“We cannot proceed without him. That is not an option,” he said, adjourning jury selection until next Tuesday.

Mr Jackson is pleading innocent to a ten-count indictment of molesting a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland ranch and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

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