Michael Jackson is a lover, not a fighter, so as his attorneys traded jabs with prosecutors on Friday over charges that he molested a young boy, the self-declared King of Pop prepared for a party in his honour.Jackson, who was charged on Thursday with nine counts of child molestation, was expected to attend the get-together scheduled for Saturday afternoon at his Neverland Valley Ranch in the foothills above Santa Barbara, his spokesman said.Stuart Backerman said friends of Jackson — who famously told ex-Beatle Paul McCartney during a duet that he was ‘‘a lover, not a fighter’’ — were throwing the party and that most of his large family would be there. ‘‘There will be a goodly chunk of people, including celebrities,’’ Backerman said. The guest list originally included about 300 names, he said, predicting that twice that many people could show up, including children.The 45-year-old entertainer, who has been largely in seclusion since police raided Neverland in November looking for evidence, was then expected to travel to Britain, a trip that required return of his passport from prosecutors. He must be in a California court, on January 16 for a hearing. British newspapers and children’s rights groups were up in arms against the visit. ‘‘Beat it’’ said The Mirror, echoing title of a Jackson song. —(Reuters)
