SINGAPORE - Singer Dionne Warwick (news) has defended Michael Jackson (news), calling his child molestation case a "complete injustice."
"I've watched him grow to become the icon that he is, and I wouldn't even consider believing the claims against him," the 63-year-old Warwick said at a press conference Tuesday.
Jackson has pleaded innocent to seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine, to get the boy to comply. He is free on $3 million bail.
"I think it's a complete injustice, the way it's (the trial) being done," Warwick said.
The Grammy-winning singer is scheduled to perform a concert in Singapore on Thursday. She canceled a performance in mid-2003 because of the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS
Warwick's hits include "That's What Friends Are For," "I Say a Little Prayer," Walk on By" and "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?"
The U.S. Embassy here said Warwick has been presented an American Honor Citizen Award for her work to raise funds for AIDS awareness and research worldwide and for promoting American music around the world.