Martin Bashir addresses moment he confronted Michael Jackson over child sex abuse allegations

Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.

Former broadcaster Martin Bashir said he was left 'completely gobsmacked' by Michael Jackson's revelation that he shared his bed with a 12-year-old boy.

The journalist, 63, famously sat down with the late King of Pop back in 2003 for an interview that ended up sparking huge backlash, as well as a criminal investigation.

Jackson's conversation with Bashir became a huge part of his controversial legacy - and fresh details about their sit-down at the notorious Neverland Ranch has now been revealed in a new Netflix documentary.

Michael Jackson: The Verdict is a three-part documentary series which delves back into the lead up to his 2005 trial for child molestation charges, as well as what went down in the courtroom.

It has made its Netflix debut today (3 June) and it comes hot on the heels of the release of Antoine Fuqua's biopic, Michael.

The synopsis for Michael Jackson: The Verdict reads: "Told by key players who were inside the courtroom, this comprehensive documentary dissects the trial of Michael Jackson and his complex legacy."

(Netflix)

Given that Bashir's interview with the 'Beat It' singer arguably triggered a chain of events that led to Jackson running into legal trouble, he kicks off the first episode of the Netflix series.

The father-of-three explained that he was motivated to film his 2003 documentary, Living with Michael Jackson, because he 'wanted to understand his life'.

"I thought he had a strange relationship with children," Bashir tells viewers. "There had been allegations before, there had been settlements.

"When I met him, he was increasingly isolated as a figure. There was none of the kind of lawyers, PR's and publicists that normally surround a major global superstar. He was in control.

"I knew I had to ask him certain questions that were going to be quite difficult, but it was quite intimidating.

"When you're dealing with someone like Michael Jackson, you don't tell him what you're going to film. But, if we behaved appropriately and if he liked us, then things would happen."

(Netflix)

Bashir explained that after exploring Neverland with the Grammy-winner and quizzing him about his life, he thought they had built up a good rapport.

"I was getting on well with him, the filming had gone really well, he seemed to have enjoyed it," the TV star said. "Yet I knew that for this section of the film, I had to put all of that aside and behave as though I was confronting him for the first time. I had to ask him about the allegations of child sexual abuse. I was anxious about what was going to happen when I put these difficult questions to him."

Jackson had settled a civil case in 1993, in regards to sexual abuse allegations made by a 13-year-old boy, out of court.

Bashir told how as filming drew to a close, Jackson suddenly informed him that there was someone he wanted him to meet.

The broadcaster recalled: "He said, 'I want you to meet somebody. He's a little boy and we've healed him of cancer'. Michael then gets up, goes out and brings the child in front of us."

Gavin Arvizo, who was aged 12 at the time, then entered the room and sat down next to Jackson.

(Netflix)

Arvizo was seen tightly clinging onto the singer' hand and resting his head on his shoulder, while a bemused Bashir began to question Jackson about the close relationships he had with children.

Sharing his theory on why the hitmaker decided to introduce him to Arvizo, Bashir said in The Verdict: "I think what was going through his mind was, 'Here's an example of a child that I have helped. That's what I want you to put in your film'."

But Jackson instead ended up making a rod for his own back, as he brazenly announced that he allows children to share his bed with him.

The singer - who himself was a father to children Prince, Paris and Bigi (Blanket) - said to Bashir: "Why can't you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone.

"Whenever kids come here, they always want to stay with me. They never want to stay in the guest [rooms]. I have never invited them in my room, they always just want to [stay].

"They say, 'Can I stay with you tonight?' I go, 'If it's okay with your parents, yes you can'."

Take a look at this:

In The Verdict, Bashir explained that he and his crew were left astonished by the 'Beat It' singer offering up this information while cameras were rolling.

"Michael volunteers during the conversation that they sleep in the bed together," he recalled. "And we're just...all of us, the production team, are just completely gobsmacked.

"I mean, we can't believe what's going on in front of us.

"He had actually made a disclosure on camera about something that had always been queried around him, that people had always suspected there is something wrong about the way he interacts.

"I realised that we had something that was hugely significant - but I didn't realise the extent of the bombshell, until the broadcast."

Jackson, who was 46 at the time, was later charged with child molestation, child intoxication and accusations he conspired to commit extortion and plotted to hold the accuser's family captive – all of which he was later acquitted of.

He died in 2009 at the age of 50.

What was Michael Jackson accused of in 2005?

The trial People v. Jackson saw the singer face accusations of 10 counts of abuse. These included:

• Four counts of molesting a minor
• Four counts of intoxicating a minor to molest him
• One count of attempted child molestation
• One count of conspiring to hold the Arvizo family captive and conspiring to commit extortion and child abduction

Witnesses in Jackson's defence included Macaulay Culkin, who Jackson had previously admitted to sharing a bed with, as well as his brother Kieran, at his Neverland estate.

The Home Alone star said the allegations against Jackson were 'absolutely ridiculous', according to a transcript of his testimony published in Vanity Fair.

Prior to this, Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993. Los Angeles dentist and screenwriter Evan Chandler accused him of sexually abusing his 13-year-old son. The case was later settled.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.