Martin Bashir has been accused of having ‘blood on his hands’ in regards to his explosive fly-on-the-wall documentary with pop singer Michael Jackson.
The journalist and news anchor conducted a series of interviews with the King of Pop in 2003, but now he has been accused of setting him up.
Jackson’s former confidant and lawyer Brian Oxman claims Bashir wanted him “brought down” on TV like Princess Diana – sparking a chain of events that led to the star’s 2009 overdose death.
The claims come after police said they may probe Bashir’s 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana, if a complaint is made.
Martin Bashir filmed a fly-on-the-wall documentary with Michael Jackson back in 2003
Diana’s brother Earl Spencer has alleged Bashir showed him fake financial papers and lied about the royals to get access to his sibling back in 1995.
During his interview with Jackson, Bashir allegedly “induced” the father-of-three into making admissions after praising his “parenting skills”.
Living with Michael Jackson saw Jackson admit to Bashir that he let kids sleep in his bed at his Neverland Ranch.
Jackson’s former confidant and lawyer Brian Oxman has claimed Bashir has ‘blood on his hands’ (Image: BuzzFoto/FilmMagic)
It also showed Jackson holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with a 12-year-old boy.
In December 2003, Santa Barbara authorities charged Jackson with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of intoxicating a minor with alcoholic drinks.
Jackson denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty, and his trial began in January 2005.
Bashir was invited into Jackson’s Neverland home where they spoke about the singer’s home life (Image: Unknown)
Oxman believes the molestation trial “tormented Jackson until the day he passed”.
He told The Mirror: “Some of the family feel Martin Bashir has blood on his hands.
“He brought down Princess Diana on TV. He wanted to do the same with the biggest entertainer in the world.
“Michael was cleared on all counts, but these false accusations meant whatever he did, a cloud hung over him.”
Bashir has also come under fire for his Panorama interview with Princess Diana in 1995 (Image: Getty Images)
On the ITV documentary, watched by over 500 million worldwide, Bashir called Neverland a “dangerous place for a vulnerable child”.
However, Oxman claims that Jackson’s footage has Bashir saying “it was a privilege” to film him helping sick kids and that misrepresentation of that would be “disgusting”.
In unaired scenes he apparently said: “It almost makes me weep. Your interaction is just so natural, loving.”
In December 2003, Santa Barbara authorities charged Jackson with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of intoxicating a minor with alcoholic drinks
Jackson was cleared of the allegations in 2005 and unearthed legal papers show his lawyers had tried to make Bashir take the stand.
They accused Bashir of continuous misrepresentation and lying “over and over again”, promising him that it would be a “positive film”.
But Bashir avoided cross-examination about his methods to gain interviews by using an obscure local law that essentially protects journalists from divulging details of unaired interactions.
Oxman added: “Michael was fuming. Bashir had many questions to answer.”
Jackson’s lawyers wanted Bashir to be questioned and “held in contempt” but the judge never ruled on the matter.
Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009, from cardiac arrest less than three weeks before his This Is It show was due to begin in London.
Daily Star has contacted a representative of Martin Bashir for comment.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
