Michael Jackson absent from court again in trial over concerts

<br>SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) _ Michael Jackson failed to show up in court Thursday, after two days of testimony in which he caused a stir by hobbling in on crutches and making comical faces at observers.

Friday, December 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) _ Michael Jackson failed to show up in court Thursday, after two days of testimony in which he caused a stir by hobbling in on crutches and making comical faces at observers.

Jackson was scheduled to testify for a sixth day in a $21 million lawsuit alleging he backed out of two millennium concerts. It was the third time Jackson was a no-show at the trial.

Jackson's lawyer, Zia Modabber, told the court the latest absence was due to an unspecified medical problem. The attorney did not immediately return calls for further comment.

The 44-year-old singer walked into court Tuesday and Wednesday on crutches because he said a spider bite caused his left foot to swell.

Concert promoter Marcel Avram sued Jackson for allegedly backing out of performances in Sydney, Australia, and Honolulu on Dec. 31, 1999. The singer maintains it was Avram who canceled the shows over concerns they would not be profitable.

Jackson has repeatedly said he can't remember key events in the planning stages for the concerts.

Avram's attorney, Louis ``Skip'' Miller, had been scheduled to resume cross-examination of Jackson on Thursday.

The trial is scheduled to resume Friday, but it was unclear whether Jackson would continue his testimony.