Michael Jackson denies the charges against him (BBC)

Pop superstar Michael Jackson has gone to court to observe a pre-trial hearing in his child molestation case.

In the voluntary visit, Mr Jackson watched his lawyer question the Santa Barbara District Attorney to try to prove evidence was obtained illegally.

Fans screamed as the star, dressed in a white suit arrived by double-decker bus at the Santa Maria court in California.

He was accompanied by several members of his family. Mr Jackson has pleaded not guilty to 10 child abuse charges.

His parents, sisters LaToya and Janet, and brothers Jermaine and Tito were with the singer at the courthouse.

During the hearing Mr Jackson's lawyer Thomas Mesereau, Jr, questioned Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon over his investigations.

Mr Jackson's team is arguing that Mr Sneddon invaded the attorney-client relationship with a raid at the office of a private investigator who was working for the star's former attorney Mark Geragos.

Any evidence gained from the office may be ruled inadmissible - and could mean prosecutors lose a central tenet of their case.

In court Mr Sneddon testified that he had not known at the time that Mr Geragos had hired the investigator.

AP news agency reports that his exchanges with Mr Mesereau were heated at times, prompting the judge to warn: "Mr Sneddon, I'm going to ask you not to spar with the attorney."

Mr Sneddon was also the man who tried to bring charges against Mr Jackson in 1993.

The hearing comes a day after Mr Jackson made a public visit to a Los Angeles church.

After a service at the First AME Church, the singer toured a church education centre and spoke to a class of 35 Sunday school students.

Asked by one girl if the children could visit his Neverland ranch, Mr Jackson, 45, replied: "You're welcome to come any time."

The star and his lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr, declined to answer questions about the child molestation case.

The pre-trial hearing could last a week, but Mr Jackson was only expected to attend the first day.

He has only appeared in court twice before in this case - both times causing a furore outside the court with thousands of fans and media turning up.

"We are prepared for any contingency and have the necessary resources ready should Mr Jackson choose to attend the hearing," said Santa Barbara police department spokesman Sergeant Chris Pappas.

The star is currently free on $3m (￡1.6m) bail. His trial is scheduled to start on 30 January 2005.

(Agencies)

molestation: the act of subjecting someone to unwanted or improper sexual advances or activity (especially women or children)（骚扰）

inadmissible: not deserving to be admitted（不许可的，难承认的）

furore : an interest followed with exaggerated zeal（狂热）