Michael Jackson News 2005 |
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January |
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2005 trial transcripts (full) | |||||||||||||
Even this year was a hard year for Michael he tried to keep his Christmas tradition,so he invited 200 poor children to have fun at Neverland.Christmas came earlier for this children this year.They spent time in his amusement park,saw the animals and met Santa Claus. Michael was there and he wish them "Merry Christmas"!One of the children said "We love you Michael" and Michael answered "I love you more!" The judge rejected the defense request (they asked for another date for the start of the trial). |
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The trial will start on 31/01/2005.The selection of the jury will start then.This process will last one month. Even if the D.A. must do the opening statements in less then 3 weeks,the police is still talking with children.A lot of children were asked if Michael had an indecent behavior with any one of them.One of them was Jermaine's boy (he is 18 today).Everyone of them said that Michael was very nice with them.So the statements of the media (they have said the the D.A. has a lot of cases against Michael) are not true.The cases we are talking about are:the one from 1993(the boy is today 23 and he didn't want to be involved till now-he refused appering in front of the Grand Jury),the one from 1990 (Michael paid to this family $2 mil),the present one( which is ready to crack if the D.A. needs so badly other cases ) and the one from the 80's (which already filed a civil lawsuit agains the star). It seems the things don't go as good as planed if the D.A wants to change dance parteners(even if they sustained that they have a very strong case).The defense said they are not scared about the prooves from the past and that maybe it is even better( they will have for the first time the chance to question this witness and they will proove once and for all that Michael was innocent).But let's see what this accusations are really about. The boy from '93 met Michael accidentaly-Michael's car broke down one day when he was on town and a relative of the kid helped.In this way Michael became friend with that family.The statement that child made later about the alleged indecent behavior it seemed to have been made because of the father's pressure (the father was a dentist that dreamed to be a director and for getting there he gave drugs to the kid making him say what he wanted). The evidence in that case was not suficient for Michael's indicment:two Grand Jury were not moved.Even if the story of the child was very detailed and obscene ,the description he give about Michael'body didn't match the picture taken by the police.That case was settled outside the court and Michael paid $25 mil.He regrets doing that today. But that deal didn't forbid a penal trial.The negligence was mentioned just for the insurence company;in fact Michael didn't say he did anything wrong. The boy from '90 was the child of a maid from Neverland that was fired because she was caught stealing. This child said that if the one from '93 will not be a witness he will not go to the trial either.How convenient,no? In the present case there are a lot of mistakes that support Michael's innocence. The accusations from the begining are very different from the present ones( at the begining there were a lot more sexual accusations whithin a very strict period of time;now there are many conspiracy accusations whithin a vague period of time- the family say that they had no clock so no ideea about the time;this is kind of funny because in front of Neverland is a clock you can see from the air,in the house there are a lot of clocks and Michael give the kid a clock like a birthday present).The entire story about the detention to Neverland is hard to believe because the mother made a vist to her house and to the bank.The fact that they counldn't say to anybody because Michael was listening the phones is incredible because the mother had a mobil phone all the time. This is not the first time when this family makes contradictory statements. There are a lot of prooves for that in the child support case of the mother. She accused the father of abusing her and the children and took the kids from him. He can't visit them even today.When the Child Protection made the first visit to this family the children were home alone and they said the father did nothing wrong. When they did the second visit and the mother was home the story was entirely different. This thing was repeated to the trial:when the girl was asked in front of everybody she said the father was guilty,when asked alone she said that wasn't true. Now the mother and the D.A. try their best to keep the father away. Maybe they do that because he said he never saw Michael being indecent in front of a child. The father was the one who took care of the boy when he was ill and went for the first time with him at Neverland.The mother couldn't deal with the problem.How covenient! A friend of the family ,Masada said other lies in the papers. He was the one that said that he introduce the child to Michael. At the begining he said he called Quincy Jones. After that he said he called to Neverland.In fact Michael met the boy because a Make a wish foundation. This man said he was Michael's friend and that he was very upset because of what Michael did to this kid.Today he did recognised,when a newspaperman asked the right questioned,that he never met Michael. But Michael wasn't the only fool in this story.The family extort money from a Tv show that was asked to make a feature report about the sick child(the journalist who was involded in that said she felt the mother was a shark because when she brought them food on Thanksgiving day the mother said that she would better have the money),from the police( they brought food and a tree for Christmas),from Cris Tucker and some fundations. People who met this child say he is very streetwise, not at all naive , that he will not take any crap from nobody and that he will tell imediatly if anything wrong would happend to him. The family said they didn't know about the abuse till he went to a psychiatry.But today they say that the brother witnessed the abuse!Other mistakes! The one from the 80's is not interested in justice because he already asked for money! In all this accusations the MONEY are the main concern! |
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The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Dept. is launching an "investigation" into who leaked the grand jury transcripts to the media. But could this "investigation" be too little too late, as some observers already think their pals in the DA's office are responsible? Tabloid reporter Diane Dimond has asserted that maybe someone on the defense's side leaked this information in some ridiculous theory about getting bad info out to the public. Ridiculous,no? This grand jury leak is not the first time pro-prosecution leaks have magically appeared by way of some of the most visible prosecution-sympathizers. Two of these visible sympathizers also got exclusive interviews with Tom Sneddon in 2003. Probably one of the biggest leaks in this "case" involved Dimond being given the tip off from her "highly placed sources" that Neverland was going to be raided by the police before it happened. Some observers have said it is definitely unethical if not illegal for the authorities to tip off anyone before a property is to be raided.She said: "I told them, 'I want to go get you a big, juicy story, but I can't tell you what it is; you just have to trust me. And you have to let me hire the camera crews because I don't want anyone to know where I'm going."' The judge will allow adult material to be shown to the jury, he will not allow large amonts of irrelevant or non-Jackson owned material.The judge said they can't call it "pornography", "obscene", or "erotic".Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. countered that all the materials seized were legally available. In the case of the magazine with the prints, he said, evidence will show Jackson took it away from his accuser and locked it up.Zonen said investigators found the fingerprints of Jackson and his accuser on one of the magazines . Judge Rodney Melville will force Martin Bashir to testify at trial.The judge ruled against the prosecution in allowing the ABC News version of the Bashir "documentay" in. He ruled that the jury can see the European version of the Martin Bashir documentary. The american version is even worse than the european because it was further edited.The defense wants that they can present the footage Michael took with his own camera.The judge said he will think about it. Two other big rulings which went in the defense's favor is that the accuser must testify in open court and the accusing family can't be referred to as "victims" until closing arguments. District Attorney Ron Zonen said the 50 print and video items that were seized in 2003 included graphic sexual material that was heterosexual and homosexual in nature. The material also included nude photos of models who may have been 18 but looked much younger, he said. But we got to remember how many lies and how much the D.A. distort the truth ,so we have to wait and see what is really on this materials.Especially that they are already voices that say that not all the stuff was Michael's.Anyway there are a lot of experts that say that this case will fall apart in the next weeks and month. |
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The judge decided that the previous accusations will not be presented in this case,at least not at the begining.He had another trial where the current case was so light that the defendent was condemn only on old stuff. Because the leaks of information in the media( an american tv station played a show which contained all the obscene details from the files) the judge will allow Michael to make a televised statement.Michael recorded an interview for Fox News that could air before 31 Jan.Normally the D.A is furios-he said that this could influence the jury.Too bad he forgets that he started all this mass breaking the rules and giving secret informations to the media. The D.A asks that the examination of the kids to be done without public.The defence disagree because they say that this is the evidence that support this case so everybody should see if it is strong enought. Martin Bashir was asked to testify for the D.A. but he refused.Maybe he is just too scare to really lie to the trial,no? He is hired by ABC News and will cover Michael's trial for them. The defense asked that the boy and his family not to be called victims.Also they want that the jurors to be asked about the new show that described the alleged abuse. The judge is letting the D.A to bring experts to explain why the child didn't say to anybody about the alleged abuse for a couple of months.The defense said that this experts should not be included if they can proove that this crime never took place and this family told only lies about everything. They will choose the jury until 8 feb and after that the trial is expected to take 6 month. The judge said he will not release the DVD with the images from Neverland ,but the media will be able to see it in court.The defense said that the magazines the police took from there should not be called pornographic because you can buy them anywhere and this is not illegal. |
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On Sunday, the singer released a court-approved message over his Web site, saying he would be "acquitted and vindicated" of all charges against him. Monday,31 of January, was the first day of Michael Jackson trial. In the first two days,they choose the jurors. On Tuesday,February 2, 2005 Jackson judge says he has enough prospective jurors to hear case so he is ready to proceed to the next step in the jury selection process.. The announcement by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville came after a group of 250 potential jurors have been picked from about 450 people screened during 1 1/2 days of jury selection. Attorneys for both sides time have to read the seven-page questionnaires members of the jury pool were asked to complete. Monday will begin the process, in which prospective jurors are questioned by attorneys from both sides. Jackson appeared attentive and took notes on a yellow legal pad Tuesday, chuckling along with others in the courtroom when one potential juror, who said he was self-employed, responded when asked if he had any other source of income: "Just my wife." The trial is expected to last six months.The judge indicated he has no plans to keep the jury sequestered for the trial. Choosing parents as jurors can work to the advantage of either the prosecution or the defense. In both days,Michael didn't behaved like a megastar-he smiled and saluted the jurors ,he shock hands with the clerks.He looked very confident. When everybody sit down all eyes were on Michael. The jurors in the first row really stare at him while the others from the back sits tried to catch his eye. His lawyer asked him if he's feeling o.k. and he replied that he's just fine. Beind nice as usual, Michael Jackson waves to the crowd Tuesday outside the Santa Maria, California, courthouse. Let's hope that the good impression Michael did in this days will be usefull in the future trial!!! |
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February |
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Tom Sneddon, didn't bother to show up for the first two days of trial. He had nothing better to do when he was holding joking press conferences, so why did he suddenly become too busy to make an appearance at the start of the actual trial? This is Sneddon's trial. This is what he's wanted. Every since 1993, he may have been wishing for another chance at Jackson. A developing and devastating bombshell comes by way of Celebrity Justice (CJ). In a Feb 1 2005 report, CJ says they have found out that the accuser actually touched/handled one of the adult magazines while testifying on the stand in front of the grand jury. The problem with this is that the magazines had not been tested yet for fingerprints. CJ reports that when one of the grand jurors asked whether or not the magazines the kid was touching had been tested, the answer was "No." If this report is correct, this blows a gigantic hole in prosecution sympathizers' argument. One of the most important points involved the prosecution's timeline. The implausible timeline claims that right in the middle of at least two independent investigations-one by the Dept of Children & Family Services and a first 2-month investigation by the Santa Barbara Sheriff's dept-that Jackson would START molesting the accuser. The father, interviewed separately, says "there's no reason to suspect any wrongdoing" by Jackson, adding that he too "attributed (his son's) recovery to Jackson." This investigation lasted until April 16 2003, right through the entire set of charges with days to spare. So, after she escapes, she runs to a lawyer. She doesn't run to the SBSD - whose investigation was still ongoing in March 2003 - to tell them she saw her kid being sexually abused on a plane, or about them being held hostage, or about being threatened or anything. And all of this was supposed to have occurred right at the time when the entire world was focused like a laser on Jackson's relationship with children -particularly this kid-- and the media dissecting his entire life. According to press reports, by Feb 16 2003, she had allegedly already seen Jackson "abusing" her son on a plane ride between California and Florida. And still, with her direct access to the DA's office, she said nothing. Despite what the defense will do or has done, some observers say the prosecution's "case" already seems to be crippled before an actual trial starts. Others, as well, have picked up on a number of huge problems. Another point brought up by the Abrams panel was that devastating Los Angeles Dept. of Children & Family Services investigation done right in the middle of their alleged kidnapping. The investigation, spanning two weeks from Feb 14 to Feb 27 2003, was sparked by a third-party who called in with "concerns" after watching Bashir's hatchet-job of a "documentary". DCFS concluded that the allegations were "unfounded". The accusing family, all of them, denied any form of abuse and more importantly they said nothing about being threatened or being held hostage. Normal procedure during these types of investigations dictates that each family member will be isolated from the other and they will be interviewed without the interference or intimidation of anyone, including the parent. According to the summary memo, "the mother stated that her children are never left alone with the entertainer" (see DCFS Memo). This would also corroborate what attorney Mark Geragos revealed during that CBS 60 Minutes interview when he said there were precautions in place to where Jackson would never be alone with any kid. Was someone else in the room when the accuser and Jackson were in the same room, as Jackson slept on the floor and the accuser in the bed? Were there surveillance cameras? Time will tell. Even during that DCFS investigation, the mother said: She further stated that her son has slept in the same room as the entertainer but they did not share a bed. The entertainer would sleep on the floor. However, the argument about the alleged "molestation" doesn't hold water because of the "conspiracy" charge and because the sister and mother both claimed to have seen Jackson either abusing the accuser in Feb 2003 or being given alcohol. The accuser's sister claims she and her brothers were given alcohol right around that time as well yet she said nothing about this. Another pitfall revolved around the family's behavior regarding the $3 million JC Penney lawsuit they filed. Security caught the family stealing merchandise out of a JC Penney store. They were stopped in the parking lot by security, at which time, according to reports, the mother became irate, and claimed her children were only modeling the clothes.in the parking lot.outside of the store. Geraldo Rivera has had a few issues with this "case" even before he met Jackson. He appeared on Jay Leno's show Feb 4 2005 to talk about the Jackson interview. Rivera made a joke on the show that it was more dangerous defending Jackson than covering the Iraq war. Rivera also appeared on Fox's Hannity and Colmes Feb 1 2005 to talk about the "case". H expressed huge doubts that Jackson would be panicked that the world would think he's a child molester after the Bashir "documentary," and START to molest the accuser only after this prosecution-alleged "panic". From that show: So here's Michael Jackson, he's watching himself on tv, being accused of being a pedophile and he gets the idea, 'I must be a pedophile, I'm going to go out and a abuse the boy'. This defies human nature. Appearing on another show of Hannity & Colmes Feb 3 2005, he discussed more about his interview with Jackson. He says Jackson thanked him for keeping an open mind instead of joining this media circus/chorus of "guilty until proven guilty". Mesereau, who described Sneddon as "losing touch with reality," said the district attorney and his staff encouraged witnesses to lie to the grand jury that indicted Jackson. The defense lawyer said Sneddon was "obsessed" with the case, traveling to Australia at his own expense to locate other purported victims. It was also revealed that Mr. Sneddon had traveled to Australia in search of other alleged victims of Mr. Jackson and that an alleged victim from the 1993 case had been interviewed in 1999 by a sheriff's detective. Sneddon has essentially lost his prosecutor-protection by becoming personally involved in this case. Sneddon actually had a secret meeting where only he and the mother were present. He didn't audiotape record or videotape this meeting at which he accepted "evidence" from her without benefit of having a sheriff's deputy present to take custody of this material. Even one of their own police investigators testified on the stand in a pretrial hearing that he doesn't know of any other case when this DA has done such things. Sneddon also allowed witnesses with no personal knowledge of Jackson's relationship with any of the prosecution-alleged co-conspirators to talk jurors into believing in this sinister "conspiracy" charge. The defense says this testimony was based completely on speculation regarding Jackson's involvement. Reportedly, one of the ways in which Jackson's lawyers disputed this argument was by revealing that the DA was spotted shopping with the accuser in Beverly Hills. But if this is an allegation which will allow Jackson unfettered access to clear his name both for this current allegation and from the 1993 investigation, then so be it.This case however gives a new meaning to the phrase 'be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Michael Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, who bore two of the singer's three children change her mind about the custordy for their children. Debbie claims she now wants custody because of the new revelations about Jackson's life, including the current allegations and the singer's comments interview for a BBC documentary in which he said that it's fine for kids to sleep with adults. The judge in the current custody case has ruled that Rowe did not give up her parental rights because the 2001 proceedings were flawed. A State Appeals Court also ruled that Rowe did not forfeit parental rights. Back in 2001 she testified: "I had the children for him. I did it for him to become a father. Not for me to become a mother. You earn the title of parent. I have done absolutely nothing to earn that title." Q= Questions asked of Debbie Rowe A= Her answers to those questions Q. Do you want the court to terminate your parental rights? A. Yes Q. Okay. A. Because -- Q. That was my next question. Why? A. Because Michael is a wonderful man. First of all, a brilliant father. And it's the best -- as their mother, it is the best interest for the children. I don't know if judge Lachs understands this. But when I was seeing them every 45 days, it felt like an intrusion on their life and they're going to have enough intrusions at it is. I don't want to be part of it. I'm absolutely around if ever Michael needs me, if the children need me for a liver, kidney, a hello, whatever, I will always be around for him. These are his children. I had the children for him. They wouldn't be on this planet if it wasn't for my love of him. I did it for him to become a father. Not for me to become a mother. You earn the title parent. I have done absolutely nothing to earn that title. Q. How long have you thought about your decision? A. Since -- I've thought about it for a year. The reason I didn't do it a year ago, everybody would have gone "Uh", "uh", "uh", gasp, gasp, gasp. "Oh, my God, have you thought this out?" So just so everybody understands, I've thought about this a lot. And this is -- this is for what's the best for the kids. Do you know what I mean, about the intrusion and stress? Do you understand? The Court: I think I understand. |
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Sunday, 06 February 2005 On FOX News tonight, Geraldo Rivera conducted an intimate and revealing interview with Michael Jackson. Here we see a glimpse of the real man, the father, the warrior and the tender heart behind the media's often very inaccurate portrayal. Read the full interview here... AT LARGE WITH GERALDO RIVERA Geraldo Rivera: How you doing, man? Michael Jackson: How you doing? GR: Good to see you. GR: You get to smile anymore? MJ: Of course, I smile a lot. GR: You smile when you're in a recording studio like this one, doing music?. MJ: Of course, I love music. GR: Is it nice to get back to the music? . MJ: It's fantastic. Because ahhh. It's my life. That's what I do. GR: You've been so distracted, you know, you want to talk about how you're feeling? MJ: I'm doing fine Geraldo, how are you? GR: Despite whatever else goes on in the world, you're doing ok? MJ: I'm doing very well, thank you. GR: You know, it was wonderful, seeing you with the children. That I think, is the real Michael Jackson that has not been seen. you with your own children, one in diapers the other two toddlers. I don't know how you manage without a nanny. MJ: Well, I enjoy taking care of my children myself it's... it's fun that's why I had them so I could take care of them and it's just great relief for me you know it's a pleasure it keeps me happy and laughing and you know, they're wonderful sweet innocent children. GR: I saw you as kind of the arbitrator between the Nickelodeon and the Disney channel there. You got some really difficult problems to solve there. But you have such a- a kind of a normal life there. It's sweet to see. MJ: Thank you. They bring me that. GR: Tell me, tell me what the children mean to you, your own children. MJ: They mean, it's hard to put it into words because they mean everything. The way you would explain how your children make you feel... They're the world for me, I wake up and I'm ready for the day because of them. I get them breakfast, I change diapers, if they want to read, we do a lot of reading, we play hide and seek, we play blind fold and have a wonderful time with it. GR: And you can create a world that at least begins to seem normal? They don't know any other world obviously. MJ: I do my best for sure. GR: So, that is obviously a priority to you MJ: Yes of course. I want to be the best father in the world of course. GR: Do they know who you are? Or what you mean to people? MJ: Yes, they do. They've been on tours with me and in limousines among a sea of fans. GR: Do they like it? MJ: They find it exciting. They want to get on stage. They bug me to go on stage with me. So, pretty sure I 'm going to take them on with me and let the world see them for the first time. GR: They don't say, 'Daddy I want to go home and watch Nickelodeon?' MJ: (Laughs) Probably, probably. GR: They do that too. MJ: Yes. GR: So how do you feel being here again, being in a recording studio again, focussing on the music again? Is it a relief, in a sense? MJ: It's a great relief. It makes me feel like I'm totally at home. I'm into my own. Which is what I'm here for. Any of the arts. like that could be film, you know, music, any type of art, I love it. GR: So, when you're being the quote on quote, King of Pop, that's when you're the most comfortable? Or is it the creative process? MJ: The creative process, yes. I'm obsessed with creating. GR: I saw you and Randy, the way you guys react - it's very reminiscent of the way my brothers and I are together. Who's top dog? MJ: Randy. GR: That's not what I saw GR: But, uh, you trust your family. MJ: Of course, you have to. GR: Is it a 'blood thicker than water' thing? What is it? MJ: Family is everything. It's love. It's what we were taught. We're friends at the end of the day, which is important. Other than what the public or press people say, we're friends. We love each other very much. GR: So, is the family closely knit, despite all the tabloid stuff? MJ: That's sensationalism. GR: How do you deal with that? MJ: How do I deal with sensationalism? GR: Yeah. How do you deal with everything in your life being magnified, exaggerated, almost to a grotesque level. MJ: It's like looking at a fictitious movie. Because its fiction. It's like watching science fiction. It's not true. And I know myself and it's sad when people have to read those things and they believe it. GR: Do you feel like holding a press conference every week and saying, this is the rumor du jour, it's not true MJ: I know eventually, the truth will prevail and I'm about truth. GR: I've researched it and I can't find anyone who has been more frivolously sued than you for the most outrageous reasons. One of your attorneys told me that a woman called Billie Jean Jackson called and said, 'Stop accepting any paychecks, Mr. Attorney, I'm the wife - Billie Jean.' obviously from your hit song, I mean, how do you. First of all, how does it affect you? M J: Does it affect me? Yes, but I've become immune in a way too, I have rhinoceros skin but at the same time I'm human. So, anything can hurt like that, but I'm very strong. And, I just don't like people hearing about such false information. GR: For instance, did you father quadruplets last year? MJ: That was a crazy rumor. GR: Then they became twins. I don't know what happened to the other two, maybe they were abducted by aliens. MJ: I heard about that story and I don't have any twins. They said I'm hiding them or something? Another made up rumor. GR: So it's completely false. MJ: The bigger the star, the bigger the target. I'm not trying to say I'm the super-duper star, I'm not saying that. I'm saying the fact that people come at celebrities, we're targets. But truth always prevails. I believe in that. I believe in God, you know? GR: Does that faith sustain you? MJ: Of course, it does. GR: How about friendship? MJ: What about friendship? GR: Do you rely on friends? Have people stayed with you through thick and thin? Who are your best friends? MJ: My children, my family, my brothers and my sisters and yeah, most people have. Most people have. GR: Do you want to mention the names of the true blue? MJ: The faithful, you wouldn't know them so, it's uh. GR: Elizabeth Taylor? MJ: Oh, she's very loyal, I see Elizabeth Taylor all the time. She's my dear friend, I was just at her house. We have wonderful talks on the phone at night, several times a week sometimes. GR: So how long have you two been friends? MJ: I've known Elizabeth closely since I was 16. GR: And you've been making music since you're five MJ: Yes GR: So you're in your fifth decade of making music. That's forty-one years of making music. MJ: Yes. GR: You ever get sick of it? MJ: No, no, not at all I never get enough of it (music). GR: Really. GR: Do you ever get sick of Randy? (Laughing) GR: He's here, ladies and gentlemen. MJ: Never, never, never He's (Randy) wonderful. He's been amazing, supportive, and amazingly brilliant. GR: So, they're all different. Your whole family is crazy, exocentric. like my family. MJ: Every brother, sister is completely different, like any family, you have all the different elements. that's what makes it a family. GR: When you have such intense scrutiny, how do you live any kind of a normal life? How do you have any kind of fun outside of your own property? MJ: I don't. I go off property sometimes, but not all the time. I create my world behind the gates you know because I can't go to the local movie theater down the street or the local park down the street or go pickup ice cream at the market, at the corner store. So, you want to create that world behind the gates and that's what I try and do. And it's not just for me if I could share with my family, friends, or whoever I do. GR: And that necessity for some privacy, drives all these crazy rumors and speculations. A difficult balancing act that you have to endure. GR: But you're not complaining are you? I don't. I try to rub it off. I don't know what I'm the king of. the king of getting shot at maybe. Ha ha ha ha. MJ: "The king of journalism." GR: So, what is it about children in distress? You mentioned the Tsunami relief effort. What is it? Is it your own fatherhood that motivates that? MJ: Caring. And reading the Bible, learning about God, Jesus, Love. He said, 'bring on the children', 'imitate the children', 'be like the children' and 'take care of others.' Take care of old people. And we were raised with those values. Those are very important values and my family and I we were raised with those values and they continue strong in us today. GR: What about movies for yourself again? You had The Wiz and some of the others but we haven't seen you on the big screen in a while. MJ: I'll be directing myself. I love directing. I love creativity and I think when an artist steps forward with a production of some type, if he can express himself the way he sees it should be done. I feel it and I see it. I'm a visionary. If I can give that, I do and that's what I love to do with music and dance and the arts. GR: And do you think art has a role in real life? Specifically referring to this record and Tsunami relief? MJ: I saw it the day after Christmas and as the numbers kept escalating, it just became phenomenal and not even I could believe that it was true. I was amazed. I said, I thought I should do something. That's what God gave us talent for. To give and to help people and to give back. So, my brothers and I decided to put a song together. GR: What did you pick up the phone and say, "hey bros?" What did you say? MJ: We just say, hey, we want to do something in the studio for the Tsunami victims. Let's get together and organize it. And they just said great. GR: However, you're back, I think that people will appreciate the fact that you're back. Wouldn't you kind of exalt in a world where you could concentrate on your art and your kids? MJ: I would love it. I mean that's what drives me. The medium. The art. That's the world I'm most comfortable in." GR: In Gary, Indiana, did you ever expect where your world would be as a 46 year old man? MJ: I never thought about it. I knew I wanted to do something wonderful all of my life and to help people and I never clearly really thought about it when I was really little. I just sang and danced and didn't understand whey people were applauding and clapping and screaming. You really don't. You don't know why. GR: When you grow up like that on stage, when do you get it? When do you understand where you fit in to society? MJ: It takes longer when you get older. You get a more rounded personality and your brain starts to grow. You start reasoning and understanding more things, researching. . GR: Isn't it nice to have a conversation on television where people can just hear you being ordinary, normal, reasonable. MJ: I'm like this all the time. I'm just being myself. GR: At a certain point, Michael Jackson and the brothers Jackson kind of separated artistically, is this a moment in your life where you're coming back together? Obviously you'll continue your solo career, but what's the big plan, what's the big picture at this stage in your life? What has been left unachieved? What would you like to do? MJ: There are a lot of surprises. Film. I love film. It's innovating, taking the medium to a new place. I used the music video medium as a short film medium to take me to the next level. I'm having a lot of fun. GR: Do you ever look back and contemplate, oh my goodness, Thriller is the biggest selling musical performance ever, do you ever get your arms around that? MJ: I try not to think about it too hard because I don't want my subconscious mind to think I've done it all, you're done now. That's why I don't put awards or trophies in my house. You won't find a gold record anywhere in my house. Because it makes you feel you've accomplished. Look what I've done. But I always want to feel, no I haven't done it yet. GR: 'The King of Pop' and now I look at some of these performers- there's a new one - there's 50 cent and another one- I forget his name, but they're well-known because they survived violent attacks where they almost died and they're into hip hop kind of - it's a different era in popular music- do you think you'll be more like them- more urban kind of- or will the world come back to more pop and traditional rock? MJ: Great music & great melodies are immortal. Culture changes, fashion change, customs, great music is immortal. We still listen to Mozart today, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, any of them, any of the greats. Great music is like a great piece of sculpture, a great painting. It's forever. That's a fact. GR: On the other hand, I interviewed Barbara Streisand at one pivotal point in her career, she was going to do duets with the BeeGees and other popular artists- she kind of changed the tempo to surprise people. MJ: I've done a lot of it already. I don't really rap, but I could. I've written songs with rap versus in them for very famous rappers, but they're much better at it than I am. GR: Don't you appreciate, despite your isolated life and despite the fact you've been a star so long, you still have what appears to be a very passionate and profound relationship with the community. Does that support you? Does that sustain you? Do you agree with me? MJ: Yes, I do agree, because it's important to love your neighbors. GR: But were does it come from. where does that almost instinctive love of you come from? MJ: I truly think it comes from my mother and God (instinctive love) The way we were raised. The values my father instilled in us in youth. She was always with the Bible teaching us - we'd go to service all the time. Four times a week and I'm so glad we did that because those are values that are very important. I don't know if I could have done as well without them. GR: Do you still spend time with mom and dad? They're not far from here right now? And what is that relationship all about? I'm so close to my mom, obviously. MJ: It's wonderful. At this stage, you tend to appreciate more who your parents are more and what they've done for you. You start to retrack where you are in your life and all the wonderful things they've instilled in you. You start to see them come forth. I'm starting to see a lot of things. Traits that my father influenced me on and my mother. GR: My friend Cheech, who you know, whose partner Tommy Chong helped discover you guys, 'Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers', he says that as he gets older, he looks at his father's face in the mirror. Do you feel that? Are you becoming like your dad? MJ: I'm very much like my father in a lot of ways. He's very strong. He's a warrior. He's always taught us to be courageous and to be confident and to believe in our ideals. And no matter what, no star is too far to reach and you never give up. And our mother taught us that as well. GR: So you're a warrior also? MJ: Absolutely. GR: That's the way you see yourself? GR: Tell us more about the way you see yourself? MJ: I try to be kind and generous and to give to people and to do what I think God wants me to do. Sometimes I pray and say "where do you want me to go next, God? What do you want me to do from here?" I've always been very spiritual in that way. It's nothing new. GR: Did you ever see the movie "Finding Neverland" or read about J. M. Barrie, the man who wrote "Peter Pan." MJ: I know a lot about Mr. Barrie and I've been a fan for many, many, many years. GR: You know, he had a rocky road, similar to you, I don't want to get too far into it. Tell us what led to the creation of Neverland. I mean, specifically the place - There are 2 Neverlands, there's 3. There's Peter Pan's Neverland, there's the Neverland in Michael Jackson's mind and then there's the physical place you created up there where I visited you when you brought up all the inner-city children. Why did you create that place? MJ: I created Neverland as a home for myself and my children and it was created simply, it was almost like it was done subconsciously, like I said earlier, where can I go? I mean, it's hard. I've tried to go out as myself and I've had policemen tell me, "put on a disguise! And give me an autograph for my wife!" They tell me, "why are you out here with no security?" I can't do it. I do it sometimes, but it's very difficult. GR: But you owned Neverland before you had the kids, was it for you? The exotic animals, were they for Michael Jackson? MJ: For me and sharing with others. It gave me a chance to do what I couldn't do when I was little. We couldn't go to movie theaters. We couldn't go to Disneyland. We couldn't do all those fun things. We were on tour. We were working hard. And we did enjoy it. But this allowed me to have a place behind the gates where the entire world I love is there. GR: You create, like Barrie, this imaginative world, do you ever outgrow something like that Michael? Do you ever think this is silly to have the llamas and the choo-choo trains and the rides? MJ: It's calling God silly if you do that, because God made all things great and small. Other men have their Ferraris and their airplanes or helicopters or wherever they find their bliss. My bliss is in giving and sharing and having simple innocent fun. GR: Your homes. For all the grandeur of Neverland. Your home is quite modest. And your personal style. I don't see any bling for instance. How come you don't have the big diamond thing that says Michael? MJ: I'm modest in that way. If I had it on, I would probably give it away to the first kid to say, 'wow, I like your necklace.' When I was growing up, stars like Sammy Davis, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly. if I admired something they were wearing, If I simply said, 'I love that shirt you're wearing,' they would give it to me. It's a show business trait. Hand it over. GR: Despite the glare of the media attention and even the day that I was there and you invited the inner-city kids there, what's it like to have the kids there? Why do you do that? I wanted to ask you that question that day but I pose it to you know. MJ: I've traveled the world over 8 times. I do as many hospitals and orphanages as I do concerts. But, of course, it's not covered (by the press). That's not why I do it, for coverage. I do it because it's from my heart. And there are so many children in the city who haven't seen the mountains, who haven't been on a carousel, who haven't pet a horse or a llama, never seen them, so if I can open my gates and see that bliss, an explosion of screaming laughter from the children and they run on the rides, I say "Thank you, God." I feel I've won God's smile of approval, because I'm doing something that brings joy and happiness to other people. GR: So, you're close to your siblings? How does it affect you when they get involved - like Janet's superbowl flap? Just tell me how you responded as a brother and a viewer? MJ: Oh, I can't speak for my sister. With love. Actually, I was looking right at it and I didn't see it. I was at a friend of mine's house, Ron Burkle and in a movie theater, it was huge on the screen and I didn't even see it. I heard all this controversy the next day and I said, "That's not true." I didn't even see it. GR: Do you think the controversy was overblown? Do you think it's a Jackson related phenomena or is it a testament to our times socially in this country? MJ: That's an interesting hypothesis too. It's both. It's hard to answer. I'd rather not answer that one. GR: Did you call her and say 'don't sweat the small stuff?' MJ: Something like that. 'Be strong. This too shall pass.' 'Don't worry about it.' I've seen worse things. I said, "Janet, you're too young to remember but, I once watched the Oscars with David Niven on it and a naked man came running out, streaking. Now, he didn't get there on his own. That was organized and nobody - they didn't say much about that." I'll just say that much. That was live, around the world. The next day it was a joke. GR: I think there is a Jackson component. I think the thing was exaggerated. I think the Jackson thing was part of the reason. MJ: Thank you. GR: So as you go forward in this record, what are we going to expect? Are we going to hear this on the radio and then people are going to send in their money and it's going to go to these kids in the Indian Ocean region? MJ: I would like that very much. GR: Now tell me, how that act of largesse, that compassion, will make you feel? Sometimes, I think, I feel better giving than receiving in my life, explain the mechanics of that in your own life. MJ: It's just the idea. I don't know if its the psychology of it or what. I just love working hard on something. Putting it together. Sweating over it and then sharing it with people and then having them love it and I always pray that they like it. That's what gives me great satisfaction as an artist. GR: Does it frustrate you professionally or personally when people say that this Jackson project flopped or that happened. Your 'Number Ones' compilation for instance, 7 and a half million copies sold. Now I think that's quadruple platinum or whatever it is you label it. And yet the characterization by some in the music business at least is that you're not- you know, that it wasn't a hit. MJ: I don't know which project you're talking about. because of negative news. Sensationalism seems to sell more than wonderful, positive news. People would rather hear gossip. My last 8 albums have all entered the charts at number 1, so people like to sensationalize things and make up stories and rumors and sometimes. GR: Does it hurt your feelings? Do you want to scream out and say, "Hey wait a minute, check the numbers!" MJ: It's a commonality in mankind that I don't like. That part of it, but then there's a beautiful side to mankind too, isn't there? GR: But not to Eminem. We've spoken about it. I think that you should. Why not? MJ: And what's your question? GR: Stevie Wonder said that he was piling on and how really rude it was for someone who made his money from the community to 'diss the community in a sense in a racist and, I've said it, very bold faced, bigoted presentation. Tell us how that hurt you and how you're feeling about it now. MJ: I've never met Mr. Eminem, and I've always admired him and to have him do something like that was pretty painful as an artist to another artist and it's sad because I think what Stevie Wonder said is true, I just don't want to say too much more than that. He (Eminem) should be ashamed of himself what he's doing. Stevie said he's bulls***. He used the word. That's what he said. I'm not saying it, Stevie said it. Stevie's amazing. He's one of the sweetest men in the world. GR: Stevie did and he is bulls***. So, when Stevie said that, did you feel a tremendous sense of reassurance, of brotherly love, there? MJ: I love Stevie Wonder. To me, he's a musical prophet. I'll always love him. A lot of people respect Stevie and he's a very strong entity in this medium, in this business and when he speaks, people listen and it was wrong of Eminem to do what he did. I've been an artist most of my life and I've never attacked a fellow artist. great artists don't do that. You don't have to do that. GR: I mentioned Janet's fiasco and the exaggerated response to it. Once again do you think he only did it because he knew he could get away with it because you're Michael Jackson? MJ: Yeah, but it doesn't hurt. It's silly. It's kind of elementary. I hope he's having fun. GR: Like a poo-poo joke. It still hurts your feelings and you don't want your kids to see it. MJ: Oh god, I would hate it if they saw it. I would hate that" GR: Finally, we've studiously avoided the case and not talked at all about the case that's pending. You're under this gag order. I know that you have received permission from the judge to read a statement. I hate to end an interview that way, but if you'd like to read that statement now, I think it's important. MJ: IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, A LARGE AMOUNT OF UGLY, MALICIOUS INFORMATION HAS BEEN RELEASED INTO THE MEDIA ABOUT ME. APPARENTLY, THIS INFORMATION WAS LEAKED THROUGH TRANSCRIPTS IN A GRAND JURY PROCEEDING WHERE NEITHER MY LAWYERS NOR I EVER APPEARED. THE INFORMATION IS DISGUSTING AND FALSE. YEARS AGO, I ALLOWED A FAMILY TO VISIT AND SPEND TIME AT NEVERLAND. NEVERLAND IS MY HOME. I ALLOWED THIS FAMILY INTO MY HOME BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THEIR SON WAS ILL WITH CANCER AND NEEDED MY HELP. THROUGH THE YEARS, I HAVE HELPED THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO WERE ILL OR IN DISTRESS. THESE EVENTS HAVE CAUSED A NIGHTMARE FOR MY FAMILY, MY CHILDREN AND ME. I NEVER INTEND TO PLACE MYSELF IN SO VULNERABLE A POSITION AGAIN. I LOVE MY COMMUNITY AND I HAVE GREAT FAITH IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. PLEASE KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND LET ME HAVE MY DAY IN COURT. I DESERVE A FAIR TRIAL LIKE EVERY OTHER AMERICAN CITIZEN. I WILL BE ACQUITTED AND VINDICATED WHEN THE TRUTH IS TOLD. GR: Michael is there anything else you would like to say? MJ: Yes. I would just like for the public to keep my family and myself in their prayers. That would be very nice. Thank you, Geraldo. mjjsource.com |
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JACKSON IN HOSPITAL -TRIAL PUT ON HOLD
Yesterday when Michael was going to the Snata Maria court-he felt very ill and was taken to the emergency room.Jury selection in Jackson's child molestation trial was put on hold for a week Tuesday after the pop star was hospitalized with what a doctor described as 'a flu-like illness'.Dr.Chuck Merrill ,an emergency room physician at Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria told reporters:'He is undergoing testing and is being treated with intravenous fluids right now.He is in stable condition and we aspect a full recovery. All our prayers go to you,Michael! |
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SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- Jury selection resumed Tuesday in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial, a week after the proceedings were postponed when the pop star was hospitalized with the flu.
Jackson arrived at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse a few minutes after 8 a.m. PT (11 a.m. ET) looking energetic and healthy. He wore a black suit with a gray vest and silver chain belt with charms hanging from it. Since the trial began January 31, court has been in session a handful of days because of a death in the family of lead defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. and because of the singer's hospitalization. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville sought Tuesday to reassure potential jurors that the trial is moving forward. "Mr. Mesereau really did have a tragedy. And Mr. Jackson really was sick -- I talked with his doctor," Melville said. "I know the energy that it takes to get yourselves up and be part of this case. ... I just know how you're feeling. I just know the letdown," the judge added. "This is something we're moving forward on." Melville also announced more celebrities who have been added to the case's 300-plus list of witnesses. Eddie Murphy, Macaulay Culkin and Smokey Robinson are among the latest names. In Tuesday's court session, attorneys questioned the pool of potential jurors. By the end of the day, 20 potential jurors had been dismissed, leaving the size of the remaining jury pool at 221. Of those released, the defense cut six and the prosecution five. Both sides can cut up to 10 prospective jurors without explanation. One of those cut by the prosecution was the only African-American on the list. Of the nine other jurors released, six were let go due to hardship reasons and both sides agreed to dismiss three others. Melville must seat a panel of 12 jurors and eight alternates. Jackson, 46, was admitted to the Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria on February 15 and released a day later. Doctors said he was suffering from a flulike ailment, and Melville canceled court proceedings, saying that jury selection couldn't continue without the defendant. Jackson is accused of molesting a 13-year-old former cancer patient, giving the boy alcohol and attempting to hold him and his family captive. The pop star has pleaded not guilty to the charges. > The 12-person jury chosen for Michael Jackson's child molestation trial is a diverse group. There are four men and eight women on the jury. The youngest juror is a 20-year-old man. The oldest is a 79-year-old woman. There are no African-Americans on the panel. There are four people who appear Hispanic and one Asian woman who lists Indonesian as her first language. Jury questionnaires did not have a question on race. The jurors are: A 51-year-old woman who works as a computer programmer. A 22-year-old woman who is a physical therapy aide. A 62-year-old man who is a civil engineer. A 44-year-old woman who works in the Department of Social Services. A 63-year-old man who is retired. A 45-year-old woman who listed no job on her paperwork. A 79-year-old woman who is retired. A 21-year-old man who is a student. A 42-year-old woman who works as an education aide in special ed. A 50-year-old woman who is a horse trainer. A 39-year-old woman who is a clerk. A 20-year-old man who is an assistant head cashier. Most jurors told lawyers they enjoyed Jackson's music and were impressed by his career. Most also said they distrusted what they heard in the media, and very few had seen recent interviews with the pop star. One juror's ex-husband is a police officer. Another juror said her sister was raped when the sister was 12. When asked if that would prevent her from being on the jury, she responded, "Hell no." The 79-year-old juror is a great-grandmother whose grandson had to register as a sex offender. She told lawyers she feels the experience will help her be fair to Jackson. The youngest juror told the court his sister and her boyfriend had visited Jackson's sprawling Neverland estate. The horse trainer said she was surprised by Jackson's size. She described him as a small man with lots of energy. The 21-year-old student is a paraplegic, paralyzed in the lower half of his body, who said he wants to be a motor sports reporter. He said he visited Neverland with a United Cerebral Palsy group when he was in the sixth grade. Wednesday's announcement that a jury had been seated was a surprise. Jury selection began January 31 with hundreds of prospective jurors. Analysts believed that picking a jury would extend into March. Jury selection in Michael Jackson's trial has been completed as of Thursday afternoon when the eight alternate jurors were chosen , clearing the way for opening statements to begin Monday, the presiding judge announced Thursday. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville urged jurors not to become part of the "circus" surrounding the proceedings. He warned that if any juror is accused of misconduct, "I have eight more jurors to choose from." Melville also announced that he will release the 2,000-page transcript of grand jury proceedings against the pop star once the jury is seated. With the jury selection process complete, opening statements are scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday Melville agreed to reserve six seats in the courtroom for Jackson's family during the trial, which is expected to last five months and include graphic testimony. Prospective jurors were asked during jury selection whether they would be uncomfortable viewing explicit material related to the allegations. The judge allowed the defense to present materials about the past of this family. |
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March |
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A district attorney described in graphic detail to a jury Monday how pop superstar Michael Jackson allegedly sought to alter a teenager's morals as part of a seduction scheme.
But the defense countered by telling jurors the teen's mother wanted to wring money from the rich and famous. In his opening statement, defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. said the teen's mother had approached many celebrities, including "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno and comedian Jim Carrey, for money.The teen's mother has claimed false imprisonment twice before, and has claimed she was a victim of sexual assaults, said Mesereau, who is expected to finish his opening statement on Tuesday. The defense attorney's opening statement followed a nearly three-hour opening statement by Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon. Sneddon recounted how Jackson and his accuser met and how Jackson invited him and his family to the singer's Neverland Ranch. The district attorney described how the pop star allegedly molested the teen through a series of events that included exposing the youth to pornography, being nude in front of him and plying him with alcohol. Sneddon named a number of unindicted co-conspirators and read 28 charges of overt conspiracy, including the charge that Jackson told the mother of the accuser that her life and the lives of her family were in danger. The man who produced the documentary -- British journalist Martin Bashir -- will be the first witness, to be followed by the public relations person hired by Jackson after the documentary was broadcast. Jackson sat in the back of a black SUV for two minutes after it drove up in front of the courthouse, enough time for all three cable news networks to cut from programming to take a live shot of his arrival. -- Michael Jackson's attorney sparred Tuesday with a British journalist who produced a documentary on the superstar's life, challenging Martin Bashir's methods and asking the judge to sanction him for refusing to answer questions.Jackson had two words for reporters who asked how he was feeling on his way out of court. "Good," Jackson said as he walked by. Then, turning back, he added, "Angry." When Bashir's "Living With Michael Jackson" was played for jurors Tuesday, Jackson appeared to cry at footage showing him dangling his infant son from a hotel balcony in Berlin in 2002. Jackson reached for tissue and dabbed his eyes. After Bashir was called to the stand by the prosecution to authenticate the documentary, defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. took the opportunity to cross-examine him. Bashir told the court, "My preference is to stand by the film," rather than answer Mesereau's queries. At one point the judge would ask Bashir if he wanted to answer the question. "No, I do not, your honor," Bashir would reply, as Melville noted the refusal for the record. The judge said he would take under advisement Mesereau's motion to hold Bashir in contempt for refusing to cooperate, calling the dispute a "ticklish area." As he concluded his cross-examination, Mesereau announced that he planned to call Bashir back to the stand later in the trial as a defense witness. Addressing jurors as he concluded his opening statement, Mesereau several times used the phrase "Michael Jackson will tell you," indicating the singer might take the stand. "We are extremely confident you are going to find Michael Jackson absolutely not guilty," said Mesereau, who also told jurors that DNA from neither the accuser nor his brother were found during extensive police searches of Jackson's Neverland Ranch. Mesereau also told jurors that Jackson's physician will testify that he did not see Jackson give his accuser alcohol during a flight, as the prosecution has alleged, and that the children themselves broke into Jackson's wine cellar. Mesereau described the children as being out of control, once throwing objects off of the top of the Ferris wheel at Neverland, aiming at people on the ground and Jackson's pet elephants. Michael Jackson's mother, Mrs. Katherine Jackson, as well as his brother, Jermaine Jackson, were present to support Michael. In a motion requested and agreed to by both parties, Judge Melville made the decision to allow the real names of the 'complaining witness' and his family. District Attorney Tom Sneddon began his opening statements at 9:10 am, by stating that "the world was 'rocked' on February 3, 2003 by the airing of the 'Living With Michael Jackson' documentary made by Martin Bashir" that aired in the UK. He implied that Michael's lifelong love and very public personal crusade to help millions of the world's children, at his own expense, was suddenly abandoned at this time so that he could pursue a 'sexual' relationship with this boy. The DA described Mr. Jackson's home, Neverland Valley Ranch, as a "No Restrictions, No Rules, No Wants" playground that has a almost a strangely supernatural effect of turning well-mannered, obedient children into unaccountable, uncontrollable menaces. Sneddon also admitted that the mother of Gavin Arvizo, Janet Arvizo, had made some mistakes in her life, and that she will admit some welfare fraud, but that is "wasn't for a lot of money." At 12:40 pm, defense attorney, Tom Mesereau began his opening statements. He began by affirming that the DA has made some very serious allegations, by accusing his client, Mr. Jackson of "imprisoning a family, abducting a family, extorting a family and molesting a child." Mr. Mesereau briefly educated the jury as to who Michael Jackson really is, as opposed to the man they have seen performing or portrayed by the media. He described to them a person who had worked very hard, since the age of 5, essentially a very private person who, "when not on stage, is very shy and shuns the limelight." He is also a varacious reader, whose library contains almost a million books. Mr. Jackson, he said, created a place for children to have fun, to be free, spontaneous and innocent. And he has done that, opening his home on countless occasions for thousands of children, many of them ill or from inner-cities. Mr. Jackson took substantial time away from his career to help Gavin get well and see that his family was provided for. For Janet Arvizo, Mr. Mesereau noted, Michael Jackson is her third claim of false imprisonment and her fourth claim of sexual assault. Mesereau shared that there were many Fund Raiser's held for the benefit of Gavin's medical bills (that had been actually covered by insurance). Janet Arvizo has claimed that she was falsely imprisoned. Mr. Mesereau described the guest cottage at Neverland where Janet says this took place, "This cottage was requested and used by Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando many times. Further, Janet spent $3312.05 during her shopping trips, on body waxing, spa products and services, lingerie, clothing and cosmetics. Mr. Mesereau told the jury that Janet claims she was prevented from knowing the time of day at Neverland. Mr. Mesereau informed to the jury that there are 2 massive and highly visible clocks, built into the hillsides of Neverland, that are also lit at night. Mr. Mesereau informed the jury that Michael Jackson was indeed aware that the Santa Barbara Police Dept. was investigating him after the airing of the documentary, the exact time the prosecutor claims that the molestation occurred. "There was great dislike for what Bashir had done to Michael Jackson, but there was elation for the business opportunity that doing a rebuttal film presented. Many people around Mr. Jackson stood to make a lot of money." Mr. Mesereau articulated. Mr. Mesereau concluded, Martin Bashir was "flattering Michael Jackson to lead him to his destruction." He stated that Michael Jackson's idealistic views of children and his hopes for a better world were left out of the commentary. When the jurors were watching the Martin Bashir's documentary they were moving their heads with the music ,one cried when Michael was telling about his childhood problems with his father,others laught when they saw Michael climbing a tree. Mr. Mesereau also reminded the jury that even months after the airing of the documentary and the 'alleged molestation,' Gavin Arvizo stated that, "Michael saved my family and he saved me from cancer." Mr. Mesereau stated that "Mr. Jackson will freely admit that he does read girly magazines from time to time. Mr. Jackson kept (these) locked in a briefcase. But he absolutely does not show them to children. Mr. Mesereau ended opening statements with, "I am extremely confident that the jury will find Michael Jackson not guilty of all charges." A public relations specialist hired two years ago by an attorney for Michael Jackson said she was fired after she expressed concern about the treatment given to the family of a teenager who would later accuse the singer of child molestation. Ann Kite also told jurors in Jackson's child molestation trial that she believed people around the pop superstar were putting their own interests ahead of his as they dealt with the fallout. She said she expressed those concerns to Jackson's brother Jermaine during a six-hour meeting, to no avail. "Jermaine was in a complete state of denial," she said. Kite, who also goes by the professional name Ann Gabriel, told jurors in Jackson's trial that she was hired by his Las Vegas-based lawyer, David LeGrand, less than a week after the documentary was first broadcast. Kite described the program as "an absolute disaster" for the pop star and that, on a damage scale from one to 10, she would put it at "a 25." Jackson also defended his practice of allowing children to sleep in his bedroom at Neverland Ranch, where the teen alleges he was molested.Jackson feels "very happy" about the start of his trial and is coping by spending time with his family and friends, his spokeswoman said after court Wednesday. "Michael feels very confident in his defense team, and he feels very happy about yesterday and today," Jackson's blunt response to reporters about his feelings Tuesday -- "angry" -- was a good reflection of how he feels about the case against him. In her testimony Wednesday, Kite said that on February 13, 2003, she had a telephone conversation with Jackson associate Fredric Marc Schaffel. Kite testified that Schaffel had expressed concern because the accuser's mother, who had been staying at Neverland with the teenager and two of her other children, took the children and abruptly left the ranch. Several hours later, Kite said, she received another phone call from Schaffel in which he told her that "the situation had been contained" . She said she never met or spoke with Jackson. During the six days she worked for the Jackson camp, her only face-to-face meeting was with LeGrand. Kite's conversations with his other associates were by phone. She had a personal relationship with LeGrand that began in the fall of 2002 and ended shortly before he hired her. During his cross-examination, defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. challenged Kite's description of herself as a crisis-management expert, getting her to admit her only other celebrity client was Marshall Sylver, a Las Vegas hypnotist. "You really weren't very experienced in the area of celebrity crisis management," Mesereau said, asking Kite why she described herself that way. "I've seen a lot," she replied.
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The sister of a teenager at the center of Michael Jackson's child molestation trial broke down on the witness stand Friday as she testified that her brother's behavior changed after contact with the pop superstar. On the stand Friday as a prosecution witness, the accuser's 18-year-old sister began to cry as she said her brother -- now 15 -- changed from a "very affectionate" boy who liked to be kissed and held to one who mostly wanted to spend time by himself. The 18-year-old woman also described one incident :Jackson was pouring a clear liquid into cups for the brothers and offered her a cup, she said. While the sister said she did not know much about alcohol, she described the liquid as tasting "funny and weird" and said she didn't finish it.Hard to believe that you didn't realize if it was alcohol or not,no? Listening to the allegation, the question immediately pops up of why would Jackson be serving little girls alcohol as well? According to the prosecution, he's supposed to be "obsessed with young boys". What's the reason for getting the girls drunk too??The allegation is that alcohol was supposedly given for the sole purpose of committing "molestation". That it's not one of those cases where it's like a misdemeanor crime -- a bartender serves someone underage.This is a very specific charge. It's giving alcohol for the purpose of committing a felony specifically the felony of child molestation.And the fact that she didn't witness any molestation . Thus the question is why would Jackson be giving the accuser alcohol on a plane full of witnesses if the alcohol was supposedly being given in order to molest the accuser? That doesn't make sense. And she will still have to explain why she said nothing to any of the people on the plane -- the flight attendants, security, anybody. From our understanding as of now, none of the alleged co-conspirators were on the plane with them, holding them hostage or threatening them at that time. It's also important to note that this is direct examination. The prosecution will only bring up want he wants the jury to know. The sister testified that after versions of the television documentary aired in Britain and the United States, Jackson associates kept the family at a California hotel for several days, telling them they could not leave "because there were death threats on us." The sister said she, her mother and her two brothers were flown on a private jet, along with comedian Chris Tucker, where they stayed in a room one floor below Jackson's.The next day, she said she saw Jackson take her then 13-year-old brother into a room in his suite and shut the door.Why nobody did something about that?Maybe because is not exactly true? Earlier, jurors watched a video tour of the ranch's main residence, including the two-story master bedroom suite where Jackson is accused of molesting the teenager. Among the items that could be seen in the video: A life-sized male doll dressed in a Boy Scout uniform ,Two framed pictures of Elizabeth Taylor ,photos with Marlyn Monroe and Shriley Temple,the "doll room," featuring hundreds of dolls, and a "toy room". The defense is sure to seize on the inconsistencies in the sister's testimony in comparison to what was said on that video by the family. And the video is more than just a few sentences. They go on and on about want a wonderful person Jackson is and how it was the accuser who asked to call him daddy. The accuser's younger brother is claiming that he saw Jackson allegedly "molest" the accuser while he was coming up the steps towards the area where Jackson's bed is located. Jackson's personal living quarters is massive and it's 2 stories high, with the bed being on the top floor. They apparently showed video showing that you can see Jackson's bed from that vantage point..if you're the right height. There was a huge point brought out by the defense under cross-examination. the defense made the point that the police officer is 5'10 and had the camera on his shoulder when he shot the video. The accuser's brother is much, much shorter than that and couldn't have seen Jackson's bed from the vantage point he claims he saw it. This is big because the defense may have already undercut the brother's testimony even before he's called to the stand. The woman's testimony followed the playing of video footage of the boy and his family lauding Jackson, and saying nothing untoward happened between the singer and the adolescent. In the tape -- the boy's mother described Jackson as "an answered prayer to my children and me," and gave Jackson credit for helping her son beat cancer. Jackson's accuser described him as "loving, kind, humble" and said he looked up to him like a father.The mother said that people alleging that Jackson's relationship with the boy was sexual were "missing out on something very beautiful that they have tainted."The sister was seen in the video with tears streaming down her face and saying of Mr. Jackson, "He's a very caring, humble man. He took us under his wing when no one else would." She spoke of her brother's affliction with cancer and that Mr. Jackson "helped him so much." The boy's mother delivered a dramatic and seemingly heartfelt tribute to a man she said "made us his family." The prosecution has alleged that the family was coerced and intimidated into making the rebuttal tape. On the stand Thursday, the boy's sister said they were told what to say. As the tape played, Jackson's mother, Katherine, who has attended court with her son during every day, wept.Jackson appeared pensive as the video played, putting two fingers up to his face and watching intently.Jackson arrived at the courthouse Friday with his mother, brother Jermaine and sister LaToya. the sister of the accuser testified under cross-examination that she had accused her own father of molesting her, imprisoning her and making terrorist threats. Mr. Mesereau asked the young woman if she had once told police she was being abused by her father five times a week, and she answered, "We were abused every day." But when Mr. Mesereau questioned the sister on the stand, she insisted that no one in her family has ever seen the documentary. Asked about her mother's statements about how poor they were, the witness said, "She was just trying to make it more dramatic. There was a script." "So are you saying everything you said on the tape was memorized?" asked Mr. Mesereau. "Not everything," the girl said. Additionally, when asked by Mr. Mesereau, she admitted that she had indeed met with Sneddon last night to discuss her testimony. - The sister of the boy who accused Michael Jackson of child abuse admitted in front of trial jurors that she had selectively lied about details of the case.Lawyer Thomas Mesereau cornered the woman over why she and members of her family had told social workers Jackson had never acted inappropriately with her 13-year-old brother who later accused the star of molestation. "So you'd lie about certain things and tell the truth about certain things, depending on what you are asked, right?" Mesereau asked the woman. "Yeah," she softly replied.
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Day 6 of Michael Jackson's trial began with the completion of the cross-examination of the sister of the accuser followed by the direct questioning of the brother of Michael Jackson's accuser. Under cross-examination, the defense attorney was able to bring out the fact that Santa Barbara sheriffs deputy, Steve Robel, gave the accusers sister a copy of the interview they gave at Moslehis house to refresh her memory. 808 The testimony of the younger brother was marked by contradictions and a curious pattern of finishing the sentences and questions of the District Attorney. The 14 year old witness testified today that Mr. Jackson showed them inappropriate websites, gave them wine, and slept in bed with them and that he was the sole witnesses to the molestation that has been alleged, although many of the key dates and details of these events have changed continuously. The brother's testimony was the first direct eyewitness account of sexual contact between Jackson and the accuser, who was 13 at the time of the alleged incidents two years ago at the singer's Neverland ranch. The brother was called to the stand shortly after jurors heard an audiotape in which the accuser, his brother, his mother and his sister described Jackson in glowing terms. The accuser also said that during his chemotherapy treatment for cancer, "Michael would always put a smile on my face" ."I knew Michael was going to protect us," the mother said on the tape. . The brother did testify under oath that he did have the codes to Jackson's bedroom. Additionally, there has been conflicting testimony as to actually when this trip to Neverland occurred. The boys' sister testified the brothers slept in Mr. Jackson's room during their first night at Neverland. Monday's testimony was that it happened on another night. Michael arrived at court with his brother, Jermaine, his mother, Katherine, and his father, Joseph, who was making his first appearance at the trial. Jackson appeared very attentive and somewhat agitated during Monday's testimony, at points shaking his head and putting one finger to his face. **we thanks for the trial transcrips to mjeol.com |
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Though the younger brother of Michael Jackson's accuser told a compelling story about seeing the pop singer molest his sibling on Monday, his testimony started to fall apart during cross-examination Tuesday . Mesereau questioned the younger bother about the Barely Legal pornographic magazine that he testified the singer had shared with them, showing him a copy of the magazine and asking him if he was sure. When the boy said yes, Mesereau pointed out the date on the magazine was August 2003 - months after the family said it had left Neverland. "That wasn't exactly the magazine he showed us," the boy responded. "I didn't say that he showed us that exact one." The brother, now 14, repeatedly claimed an absence of memory in response to Mesereau's questions, saying that given his school work and tests, "most of that stuff leaves my memory." "I know everything happened," the brother said. "I just don't remembers details ... not all the details." After watching his attorney successfully challenge his accuser's brother on the stand, Jackson "felt better today, at court's end, than he did yesterday," his publicist, Raymone Bain, said in a statement. During the brother's testimony, Jackson sat still in his chair and looked directly at the boy, shaking his head from time to time with a look of displeasure. The brother also testified that there was an alarm in the hallway leading to the bedroom that would ring a bell in the bedroom if anyone approached. Under questioning by prosecutors, the brother had also testified that his father had abused him and other members of his family and that his parents often fought with each other. Mesereau challenged that testimony with a deposition the brother gave four years ago in a civil suit in which he said his mother and father never fought and that his father never hit him. The brother said his statements in the deposition weren't true. When asked by Mesereau whether anyone had told him to lie in the deposition, he said, "I don't remember. It happened a long time ago." He gave a similar response when Mesereau asked the brother to tell the jury why he lied. "I don't remember. It's like five years ago. I don't remember nothing," the accuser's brother said. On Monday, the brother testified that on an airplane trip from Florida to California, he saw his brother and Jackson drinking alcohol, saying that he saw a red wine.But Mesereau pointed to a transcript of an interview that the brother gave police, in which he said the wine in the can was white, not red. "Do you think the court reporter made a mistake?" Mesereau asked. "Yes," the brother answered. The brother also gave conflicting statements when pressed by Mesereau on whether he knew Larry Feldman, a Los Angeles attorney who assisted the family when they came forward with the allegations against Jackson. The brother first said he knew Feldman, then later said he didn't recall the name. Then, he said he didn't recall meeting Feldman but later admitted that he had met with him twice, before saying that he didn't remember if he had met Feldman. The brother said Jackson warned him and his brother to keep quiet about what went on between them at the Neverland. "Don't tell anything that happened, not even if they put a gun to your head," the brother quoted Jackson as saying. Jackson, 46, arrived at the Santa Maria courthouse Tuesday morning, accompanied by his mother, Katherine, his father, Joseph, and his brother, Jermaine. |
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*Firstly,it's important to note that the media's schizophrenic coverage of Jackson fan participation is absolutely amazing. All of the millions of fans all over the world can't be outside a damn courthouse everyday, screaming at the top of their lungs as Jackson waves and throws peace signs for 60 seconds. It just ain't gonna happen. This isn't a concert. the media will continue to manifest this schizo attitude about Jackson until it becomes clear that the public just isn't buying it anymore. On Wednesday, Jackson's accuser had testified that he was "kind of hypnotized" by Jackson after meeting him while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer and thought "he was the coolest guy in the world." (Wednesday's testimony) The teen testified that on his very first visit to Neverland Ranch, it was Jackson who suggested that he and his younger brother sleep in Jackson's bedroom in the main residence, rather than in a guesthouse where their parents and sister were staying. He also told jurors that the claim that Jackson had helped cure him of cancer was not true, saying much of his treatment happened before he knew Jackson. But he also said there were times when Jackson seemed to be trying to avoid him, dodging his phone calls and pretending to be away. Many times the accuser has been heard saying that Mr. Jackson is the reason he is alive today, that Mr. Jackson had a great deal to do with his recovery from cancer. However, today, under questioning by Sneddon, the boy stated that he had been told to say that. Mr. Mesereau also showed jurors a video of Mr. Jackson befriending his accuser, and another of the boy's brother playing TV host for a glimpse at Mr. Jackson's Neverland ranch. "Hi from Neverland, USA," the brother said on the second video. "I'm the host of the Neverland Channel." The video was accompanied by Jackson's voice singing his hit, "I'll Be There," which includes the lyric "I'll be there to comfort you with my world of dreams around."A juror's head bobbed to the music.On the witness stand, the boy's brother was asked if he had ever seen the video. He was not sure. "Did you ever hear Michael Jackson encouraging your brother to get better?" asked defense lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr. "He probably told him on the phone, I don't know," said the boy Prosecutors claim the video was part of a conspiracy to hold the family to make them participate in damage control after a Feb. 6, 2003, The witness also said he remembered nothing about his brother discussing that Jackson helped him get through his cancer. Mr. Jackson's defense contends the family has a history of filing false claims to get money. The teenager's testimony marked the first time he faced Jackson in court. He will return to the stand when the trial resumes Thursday morning. Michael Jackson's child molestation trial began more than 90 minutes late Thursday after the pop star flirted with possible jail by failing to show up on time. When court resumed, the teenage boy who says Jackson molested him two years ago retook the stand for a second day of testimony. After Jackson failed to arrive at the Santa Maria, California, courthouse for the scheduled 8:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET) start, defense lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr. explained to Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville that his client was at a hospital for treatment of a "serious back problem." "He tripped this morning , and he fell in the early-morning hours " said Brian Oxman, an attorney for Jackson. At 5.15 a.m Jackson called his lawyer to inform him about his condition."His back is in terrible pain. He was in terrible discomfort during the entire trial proceedings."Jackson spent about a hour Thursday morning at the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital before leaving for the courthouse, said Wende Cappetta, a hospital vice president. Michael Jackson's Publicist, Raymone Bain said that "Had Mr. Jackson had the time to change clothes, he certainly would have. But it was very important for him to get to the courthouse as soon as possible. "Mr. Jackson was looking forward to facing his accuser and is not, in any way, intimidated by his accuser. Mr. Jackson feels his attorneys have been doing an excellent job." But Melville, who last month had to delay jury selection by a week after Jackson was briefly hospitalized with the flu, refused to accept the excuse. He threatened to revoke Jackson's $3 million bail and jail him for the remainder of the trial if he didn't show up within an hour. Jackson missed Melville's deadline by three minutes. Appearing disheveled and wearing pajama bottoms and sandals, Jackson walked slowly into the courthouse. A bodyguard and Jackson's father supported the singer at his elbows. Once the trial resumed, Melville apologized to jurors for the delay .But he admonished them not to "make inferences" about Jackson's innocence or guilt based on that fact. Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon asked the accuser how many times Jackson touched him inappropriately. "In my memory, it was only twice, but I feel it was more than twice," the teenager said. " But I only remember it twice." Under prosecution questioning, Jackson's accuser admitted denying that anything inappropriate had happened with Jackson when social workers came to investigate his family after he and Jackson were shown holding hands in a 2003 television documentary. Defense attorney Tom Mesereau may have uncovered a motive for why he says the boy made up the whole story.The boy said Jackson didn't act like the true friend he thought he was, saying other celebrities had been more helpful, and that he was upset with the singer.
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Day two of the cross-examination of Gavin Arvizo revealed so many substantial inconsistencies that pro-prosecution apologists couldn't come up with enough excuses to explain them away. From the beginning of yesterday's (March 14 2005) cross-examination, the accuser started off as argumentative and unresponsive on the witness stand. Those who were in the courtroom describe a very different accuser than the one prosecutors tried to show the jury under direct questioning. Guthrie reported that the accuser was being what we would call a smart-ass on the witness stand. At one point, Mesereau asked him about a problem he had with a teacher. The accuser says that "everybody" had a problem with that teacher. But Mesereau needed answer to his question for the record. And the accuser shot back a snotty reply basically saying that if everybody had a problem with that teacher, it would also include him as well. At one point, the judge seemed to get a little irritated with the accuser on the stand and said 'You need to listen to the question. Don't talk, just listen for the question, and answer this specific question yes or no'. Jackson attorney Tom Mesereau began to ask the hard questions that Sneddon had been able to hide the accuser from until now. But really, this "case" shouldn't have ever materialized, anyone else wouldn't have been prosecuted. Maybe this is to Jackson's advantage; a way to clear his name in the courts and in the court of public opinion. But this was never going to be a situation where the accuser was going to break down on the stand and admit he made the whole thing up. This family is professional. Because the accuser's story is unraveling on the stand - and this is just cross-examination, not even the defense's case the prosecution put all of their hope on 1993. The introduction of that allegation may be a complete trap set up by the defense, however. The first bombshell to come out in court was that the accuser told the Dean of his school - after he left Neverland for good, sometime in spring 2003 - that Jackson never touched him sexually or inappropriately. Mesereau asked the accuser if he had ever told Dean Alpert that Jackson never touched him. The boy said yes, he denied the abuse allegation to Alpert. Mesereau, during his cross-examination, quoted Alpert as telling the youngster: "Look at me, look at me. ... I can't help you unless you tell me the truth -- did any of this happen?" When asked when the conversation occurred, the boy said: "I believe it was after I came back from Neverland." This new info seemed to take the prosecutors by surprise. It also just begs the question of whether prosecutors went looking for evidence to bolster their belief in Jackson's guilt instead of looking for the truth. Also we found out that the boy was a disciplinary problem to damn-near every teacher he ever had. This means that the accuser has a very long history of talking back and standing up to figures of authority. It means that more than likely, he too would have stood up to Jackson. What makes it worse is that the accuser can't even give exact dates of when he claims he was allegedly "molested". Mesereau pointed out that at one point the accuser was alleging that he was allegedly molested BEFORE the Bashir hit-piece aired. The boy also had difficulty remembering aspects of the timeline, attributing his memory problems to chemotherapy treatments. "Do you remember telling [Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon] you were molested before [the pop star's video rebuttal to 'Living With Michael Jackson'] was done?" Mesereau asked the boy. "Even today, I don't remember exactly when the molestation happened," he responded And this is a major inconsistency because it undercuts the prosecution's timeline. If the alleged "victim" can't even pen down when he was supposed to have been abused, that's a hell of a lot more than "reasonable doubt". That goes to help prove that no crime occurred. Jackson's attorney pointed out that in the accuser's initial police interview, he said it was his grandmother who told him about masturbation and made a comment about how you "could rape a girl" if you didn't do it.It is very hard to believe that Michael had said in the exact same words exactly the same thing about this.Kind of a huge coincidence ,no?Two people that have never met had the same opinion and gave the exact same explanation to the kid... The boy also denied ever talking to Jay Leno, though he said that he once called and left a message on his machine. "So if anyone spoke to Jay Leno and said it was you, that's false?" Mesereau asked. The boy answered yes. For the record the file and court document states that Jackson had no active accounts with Bank of America (BOA) during the prosecution's timeline. A smiling Michael Jackson came earlier Monday to court .His mother and father were there to support him. Michael Jackson's defense attorney finished his cross-examination of the pop star's teenage accuser Tuesday morning, and prosecutors began asking follow-up questions in an effort to blunt the defense's assault on his credibility. Under re-direct, the accuser gave the excuse that he didn't tell Dean Alpert of any alleged "abuse" because he didn't want other kids to find out or to tease him. But this excuse has many problems:the children were already teasing him and why didn't he say that when Mesereau asked him the same question yesterday? The cross examination ended with Mesereau again making the point that this family left and came back..left and came back...left and came back to Neverland repeatedly during this prosecution-alleged kidnapping. The accuser used the non-committal phrases "I think." and "I don't know" over 90 times each, over the course of the day. Additionally, there were 15 "I don't think so's" and 40 'Not Really's". (Excerpt from Court Transcript) I. II. III. IV. V. VI. A well-known South Bay attorney ventured into the world's biggest criminal case Tuesday by filing briefs with the state Supreme Court on behalf of Michael Jackson that allege the pop star is the target of an overzealous prosecution. The papers filed by attorney Carl A. "Tony" Capozzola ask for an immediate halt to Jackson's ongoing child molestation trial in Santa Maria, now in its third week. "I told them before I participated fully in this I would need to speak to Michael personally and be retained on a personal basis," Capozzola said. What he discovered at Jackson's home that doubles as an amusement park and is the scene of the alleged crimes was that Jackson "is a giant kid who wouldn't hurt a kid." "I truly believe that he is a person who loves children, but not in a sexual way," Capozzola said. "But the world of Michael Jackson is different from our world." The father of five added: "I would not have taken this case if I did not firmly believe in the innocence of Michael Jackson and I have never been more confident that he will be exonerated." Legal expert Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor who is following Jackson's trial, said the timing of the Supreme Court filing is no accident and, while the high court is unlikely to act on the request, the maneuver highlights the problems with the prosecution's case. Santa Barbara County sheriff's Sgt. Steve Robel showed items seized from Neverland during a Nov. 18, 2003, search, including a sex magazine called Teenage with a woman on the cover, a black-and-white image of a nude woman and a book called "The Chop Suey Club" by photographer Bruce Weber. Robel said he found the items in a closed box at the foot of Jackson's bed. The relevance of the items was attacked by defense attorney Robert Sanger. "You know of no witness who saw any of these items," he asked. "No," Robel said. "None of these items are per se illegal to possess?" asked the lawyer. "No, they are not illegal to possess," Robel said. Asked if the models in the magazine were over age 18, Robel said, "They're supposed to be, yes." Sanger said the black-and-white photo is a collector's item called "The Glory of de Dienes Women," and he asked Robel if the "The Chop Suey Club," featuring a young man in a straw hat on the cover, was seized because investigators believed it to be sexual in nature. Robel said yes. Sanger said the book was sent to Jackson unsolicited by Weber, who has photographed the Jackson 5 and other famous people. Asked if he was aware that it had a photo of Jackson friend Elizabeth Taylor, Robel said he was not. Robell said he did not become aware of the existence of the tapes with the family until five months into his investigation, when investigators searched the ranch in November 2003. Sanger also raised inconsistencies in the boy's statements about the alleged molestation. He asked Robel whether the boy initially alleged that Jackson had abused him five times. Robel said that was true. But the lawyer suggested Jackson was not charged with that many incidents because the investigation showed Jackson wasn't at Neverland on some of the dates that were alleged. The Santa Barbara district attorney - whose prosecution of Michael Jackson is Dimond's beat - played a key role in killing a slander suit that Jackson filed against her a decade ago. In 1995, when Dimond was working for "Hard Copy," she reported that Sneddon was searching for an explicit 27-minute videotape showing Jackson molesting a boy. Sneddon soon concluded that no such video existed. "It was taken right before Christmas, as the story goes, and it was recorded by one of Michael Jackson's own security cameras," Dimond said on the radio.. "Truly explicit," she added, noting that she had not seen the alleged tape. Sneddon, in an unusual instance of a prosecutor involving himself in a civil suit, signed a declaration supporting Dimond's version of events. The trial judge dismissed the suit, saying Jackson couldn't prove malice or false reporting. As Jackson left court he was asked how he was doing during the crucial phase of the trial and how he was feeling since the back injury he claimed to have suffered last week. "I'm doing pretty good," he said. "I'm in pain." Michael Jackson has been starting his trial days by praying with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Raymone Bain shared on Tuesday.
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Today (March 16 2005), the defense revealed more devastating information to the prosecution's case. The fingerprint that so many pro-prosecution pundits like to point to as proof of guilt may have gotten put on that magazine in front of the grand jury and not during the time the accuser claims he was shown it by Jackson. Interesting reports we're getting is from testimony from Paul Zelis, one of the officers involved in investigating the case. Well, it turns out that the police didn't fingerprint the magazines until Summer of 2004, after the grand jury indictment and LONG after they were seized from Jackson's Neverland Ranch. We know when this accuser testified before the grand jury he handled these magazines,so this evidence may have been compromised. There was also more information about this adult material. Some of the magazines prosecutors entered into evidence wasn't dated until 4 months AFTER the alleged "molestation" was supposed to have occurred. In fact, it isn't "evidence" of anything other than Jackson's heterosexual behavior. Sanger made Robel clarify for the jury that none of the adult material and art books seized from Jackson's home are in any way illegal. This smacks down previous ridiculous rumors that "child porn" was found. Robel acknowledged under cross-examination that he encouraged the family to go forward with its claims, telling them, "We're going to try our best to make this case work." "And from the beginning you have made a concerted effort to make this case work?" asked Sanger. "Yup, I did," said Robel. The accuser was asked why he told Dean Alpert, the head of his school, that nothing happened after he had already left Neverland for good. The excuse given by pro-prosecution is the same one they always use: all "victims" of sexual abuse deny it. This excuse, however, absolutely does not explain why the brother said nothing; why the sister said nothing about alcohol or why the mother said nothing after allegedly witnessing abuse on a plane. A former maid was called to the stand today by the prosecution to testify that she saw kids who "may"/"might" have been intoxicated at Neverland. She made two important statements.Firstly, she said that she had never seen Michael Jackson serve alcohol to a minor.. She testified that it was near the end of the boys' stay that their room became so terribly messy that she had to alert Mr. Jackson about it. The defense questioned if the beds, in this guest unit, were unmade and appeared slept in by both boys, towards the end of their stay at the ranch. She answered 'yes'. The importance of mentioning this fact is in the timing of the molestation allegation. The accuser is currently claiming that this occurred towards the end of their stay at the ranch and that he was sleeping in Mr. Jackson's room. Another possible contradiction for the prosecution. Fournier said she coined the phrase "Pinocchio's Pleasure Island" to refer to the atmosphere at Neverland, where she said children stayed for weeks at a time without their parents and were given "free rein."However, Fournier said she did sometimes see Jackson discipline the children when they got "too rowdy. "She also said she doesn't remember seeing Jackson's teenage accuser or his siblings intoxicated at the ranch. Mesereau also asked Fournier whether, given that Neverland was designed to be a fantasy land for children, it would be surprising that "they would go a little wild." "No, that would not be unusual," she said. Court Transcripts I. II. Fritz Coleman, the weather forecaster for KNBC in Los Angeles and a standup comedian, was called to the stand by the prosecution.Coleman said he and a friend bought hundreds of dollars worth of gifts and took them to the family's home at Christmas. Later, he said, he heard that the eldest son had cancer and went to visit him in the hospital. On cross-examination, Coleman said he did not know that the family had collected more than $100,000 in a lawsuit against J.C. Penney . Prosecutors showed jurors in the Michael Mr. Jackson case a series of sexually explicit magazines, DVDs and videos, not yet proven to belong to Michael Mr. Jackson, but yet were seized from Neverland Ranch. Another witness, Deputy Shawn O'Grady, with the Santa Barbara Sheriff's office, was called to the stand to testify regarding specific books that prosecution had deemed to be sexually explicit. III. Mr. Mesereau's re-cross examination of the accuser (from a few days ago): IV. V. Mr. Mesereau also brought attention to, not only the accuser's lack of sensitivity for Mr. Jackson's skin condition (vitiligo), but through questioning, he exposes the accuser's apparent lack of knowledge of Mr. Jackson's vitiligo. Considering the fact that the accuser claims to have seen Mr. Jackson naked, he is surprisingly unaware of the effects of the disease. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. MR. SANGER: .Were there inconsistencies -- besides the one we just talked about, were there inconsistencies -- XI. XII. While MJ's condition has since improved, the air-conditioning in the California courtroom has been affecting his back, his spokeswoman Raymone Bain said, adding that the condition may well be stress related. Jackson, who wakes up around 4:30 a.m. (1200 GMT), generally always plays with his children in the afternoon, following his court appearance. At times he will go out with the kids, usually to buy them ice-cream or popcorn, she said. Later in the evening the star focuses on his case, she said.
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Jackson arrived at the Santa Maria courthouse a few minutes after the scheduled start of the trial at 8:30 a.m. Once he took his seat in the courtroom, Jackson seemed to be in distress, shaking and sobbing. At one point, appearing as if he might vomit, Jackson got up to leave, putting tissues in front of his face. As testimony resumed, a doctor was sitting behind the pop star. Jackson checked into the emergency room at the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital in Solvang, near his Neverland Ranch, at 7 a.m. (10 a.m. ET), about 90 minutes before court was to begin, said hospital spokeswoman Janet O'Neill. O'Neill said Jackson left about an hour later.The doctor went into the judge's chambers with attorneys for a private discussion that delayed court 45 minutes. Raymone Bain says Jackson told her last night "his back was killing him." Judge Melville was also contacted Sunday night, asked if the proceedings could continue and if Jackson could waive his right to be inside the courtroom until he got better. Reportedly, the judge said he didn't think the proceedings could go on without him present, but did say he would think about it and rule on it Monday morning .It was Jackson himself who changed his mind and decided to come to court, bringing the independent doctor with him just incase. Jackson apparently called at around 8:21AM and told his lawyer, Tom Mesereau, that was coming in but that he was running just a few minutes late.The judge asked Mesereau if it was possible that Jackson could sit through court all day in his condition, and Mesereau informed him that the doctor currently treating him would be in court with him to assist him medically if needed.The doctor is not one of Jackson's personal physicians. He also made it known that Jackson's back problem IS NOT "mental" and that it is really a physical condition. -- Changing stories and fuzzy details on specific dates are consistent with the way children who are victims of sexual abuse behave, an expert testified Monday at the Michael Jackson trial.The testimony came as prosecutors in Jackson's child molestation trial tried to shore up earlier contradictory statements made by the pop star's accuser. Under cross-examination by defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr., Urquiza said he had not studied false allegations of molestation because he was usually brought in to evaluate a victim only after criminal charges had been filed. But he did say that such false allegations most commonly occur during child custody disputes after divorces. Lauren Wallace, who worked as a flight attendant for an air charter company Jackson often used, testified that as part of her flight preparations, she emptied Diet Coke cans and filled them with white wine for him to drink because he got nervous on flights. However, she said did not see him give alcohol to minors during the more than 15 flights she took with Jackson. She also said that while she saw Jackson drinking both wine and mixed drinks, she did not see him drunk. -- A comedian testified Tuesday that the estranged father of the teenager at the center of Michael Jackson's child molestation trial -- not the mother -- pressed her for money.Palanker also testified that after the airing of an ABC documentary in February 2003, she received an "extremely disturbing" phone call from the mother. The woman was agitated and fearful and warned Palanker that their conversation was being monitored, the comedian testified. Palanker, couldn't explain why the mother would call her instead of the police if she were being held hostage. The mother never identified from where she was calling, nor did she explain to Palanker whom she was calling "evil". However, under cross-examination, Palanker admitted that when she was interviewed by police in January, she spoke of the family in less glowing terms.It seems as if it was a tale of two testimonies. She conceded she told police that the mother was "totally bipolar" and "very excitable," and also said that "this family can be as wacky as they want to be." But Palanker said she was probably exaggerating and engaging in "hyperbole" that is her stock and trade as a comedian.Many observers aren't buying that excuse, however. She said she decided to give the family $10,000 so the father could take time off from work to be with the boy.She finally agreed to give them another $10,000, telling that "that would have to be it," but she said he did not stop. Under cross-examination, however, Louise Palanker said she did think that the mother at one time might have suffered from "hostage syndrome". She also said that she thought the family would latch onto anyone with money or perhaps a celebrity who could help better their situation. Michael Jackson isn't the only one contributing to the drama at his child-molestation trial.A fan fainted during a session break,she was wheeled out on a gurney out to a ambulance, which had been on standby for the singer because of the back problems that had delayed his arrival to court twice in two weeks In contrast to his arrival on Monday, when he walked slowly and appeared to be somewhat disconnected, Jackson appeared alert on Tuesday, walking more rapidly despite being supported by bodyguards.
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Jackson arrived Wednesday about 15 minutes before court was set to begin, accompanied by his parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson. The judge in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial Wednesday refused to allow prosecutors to introduce as evidence electronic erotic material found on computers at the singer's home. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville agreed with Jackson's attorneys that there was not a strong enough link between the computer material and Jackson to let jurors consider it. Auchincloss also said the evidence proved that Jackson knew how to use computers and access erotic material on the Internet.Like is not so easy for everyone to do that today... But a skeptical Melville noted that Jackson's accuser and his younger brother testified they were shown sexually explicit Web material by Jackson associate Frank Tyson -- and never testified the pop star was at the keyboard. Material from adoption agency sites, with pictures of children, also was found, Auchincloss said.You got to be really crazy to consider this kind of pictures to be proof for anything wrong! But defense attorney Robert Sanger said much of the erotic material was found in the computer's cache, which temporarily stores images while surfing the Web, showing that no one actually downloaded the images to save them. Because much of the material was cached, the judge said it would be unclear "if anyone looked at it or not." "It's heterosexual material and it is not directly related to the case," Sanger said. "The issue of who accessed the material is totally unresolved." The defense iterated the fact that all the material recorded is in cache and that there is no solid proof to show that the users actively logged in to the particular sites as it could very well have been pop-ups that appeared while checking emails. Sanger also said that other people at Neverland, including Jackson's relatives, had access to the computers, and he noted that some of the material the prosecution wants to introduce dates from 1998 -- two years before Jackson's accuser even knew him. -- In a twist likely to further complicate the prosecution's efforts to convict Michael Jackson, a former bodyguard expected to be a key witness against the pop star is sitting in a Las Vegas jail for four armed robberies.The serious felony charges are likely to damage the credibility of Carter, who has testified he witnessed Jackson and his teenage accuser drinking alcohol together during an airplane flight.Carter testified in front of the grand jury April 2004 about things he miraculously saw that no one else did. And his allegations all fit perfectly with the prosecution's allegations. How convenient is it that this felon's testimony fit so perfectly with the prosecution's theory? It may be more "convenient" than we realize right now. A forensic analyst testified Thursday that at least one of the prints recovered from sexually explicit magazines seized from Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch belongs to his accuser's younger brother. Under cross-examination, however, Lisa Hemman, a forensic analyst with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, said the print was originally classified as inconclusive, but that conclusion changed after additional examination. Hemman also testified that she believes another print recovered from the magazines belongs to Jackson. However, the results are officially considered inconclusive because another examiner who looked at the print disagreed with her conclusion. A detective with the sheriff's department, Tim Sutcliffe, said he found 16 separate prints on the magazines.Sutcliffe did not identify whose prints those were. The defense claims the accuser could have handled the magazine during grand jury hearings before it was subjected to fingerprint analysis. Monday is also the day when Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville will hear arguments over whether jurors should be allowed to hear evidence of past sexual abuse allegations against Jackson, including a 1993 civil case . In other news, George Lopez is reportedly expected to testify Monday, March 28 2005. The pop star arrived in court appearing subdued and was joined by his parents and two brothers, Marlon and Jackie. Marlon's appearance was his first since testimony began February 28. Jackson's parents, all five of his brothers and his sister LaToya have now been in the courtroom to offer their support. Leaving court for the day, Jackson said he was "very much in pain" because of his back and side. At times earlier in the week, he had leaned on members of his entourage. Sgt. Robert Spinner of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department said the prints were found on a magazine titled "Hustler Barely Legal Hardcore." However, Jackson's prints and those of his accuser were found on different pages of the magazine, he said. In all, 12 prints from Jackson were found on eight different magazines; five prints from his accuser were found on three magazines; and two prints from the accuser's younger brother were found on a single magazine, Spinner said. Also Friday, a court official confirmed that the judge has cleared the way for a prosecution witness jailed in Las Vegas for a string of armed robberies to come to California to testify. Because today's testimony was so boring, reports say that at the end of the day when the defense got ready to start cross-examination, the judge stopped and said he couldn't take anymore. After which, the entire courtroom broke out into laughter. Savannah Guthrie also reported that one prosecutor kinda tripped over all of what some would call overkill exhibits. And some of the jury members broke into laughter and couldn't stop laughing. The judge didn't seem upset at this and reportedly said "I like to hear laughter in the courtroom." During testimony today, Santa Barbara Superior Court clerk Alicia Romero said that she handled the exhibits without gloves after they were lodged with the court. So I guess the headline for today is the fact that none of Jackson's fingerprints was found on the same page as the accuser's or his brothers.
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Tuesday, March 29 2005 LISTEN & READ THE INTERVIEW: Michael Jackson Talks to Jesse Jackson Created: Sunday, 27 March 2005 On Easter Sunday, the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., spoke to Michael Jackson on "Keep Hope Alive(TM) with Reverend Jesse Jackson", the nationally syndicated radio talk show originating from Chicago's WGRB-AM 1390. Rev. Jesse Jackson: Good morning. God Bless you. Happy Easter. Welcome to Keep Hope Alive with Reverend Jesse Jackson radio program. This is Reverend Jesse Jackson and this morning I wish you a happy and glorious Easter. Brothers and sisters, I encourage those of you who are listening today, to tell your friends about us and to listen to us on live on the web on Sunday mornings from 7-8am Central Time, 8-9am Eastern Time (sic) on your website, on our website keephopealiveradio.com. And please email us with your thoughts and comments. We want to hear from you. So drop us an email throughout the week at the same address keephopealiveradio.com. This Easter week, a week of challenges, agonizing challenges, the outer limits of our faith and resurrection. We are on a journey of agony and faith with regard to Terry Schiavo. We have been riveted to TV and radio reports all of this week, these last few weeks a matter of fact. Terry's case is an extraordinary challenge to our patience, our faith, our ethics and our morality. A brain impaired woman, said to be brain dead. She's being starved and dehydrated to death. She must not be trophied, inmonumented in an illified moment. Her crisis challenges us to deal with long-term health care for all Americans. In her case, they didn't pull the plug to assist her in breathing, they pulled the tube, cut off the water and will not even allow ice for her parched lips. For this level of cruelty there is no moral justification. But what can I say today about our special guest this morning. This legendary singer, dancer, songwriter, extraordinary, has transfixed the role for more than 40 years. He became an instant star at age eleven. Is the front man in Motown's phenomenally successful family act, the Jackson Five. One of the best selling groups of all time. Hickering off their Motown tenure in 1969 with the unprecedented feat of four consecutive number one singles. Who can forget "I Want You Back", "ABC", "Mama's Pearl", or "I'll Be There"? Where were you when you were having barely turned thirteen? He began his solo career. Released a successful string of solo singles including "Got To Be There", "Rockin' Robin" and "Ben". We've all marveled as he continued to scale at unprecedented heights with the success of three of the biggest selling albums of all time: 'Off The Wall', 'Thriller' and 'Bad'. Indeed, 'Thriller' is the biggest selling album of all time. Having sold 51 million copies world-wide, beyond the numbers how important and paradigm shifting has Jackson recording and shattering record, how. How phenomenal has it really been? What a phenomenal feat. As producer Quincy Jones told Time magazine. "Black music had to play second fiddle for a long time." In the spirit is the whole motor of pop. He has connected with every soul in the world. He has been proclaimed the biggest selling artist of all time. The singer most awarded entertainer the world has ever known. The most popular artist in the history of show business. And not so modestly, the world's most famous man. And of course, the King of Pop. And still our world goes on, on about this genius, about this icon for ages. Brothers and sisters, members of the Keep Hope Alive family, today we have the rare opportunity to take a journey from Gary to greatness. Hear the King of Pop share the story of his life as only he can tell it. It's with great pride and pleasure that I bring to you this morning Michael Jackson from California. Good morning Michael. Michael Jackson: Good morning Jesse. How are you? Rev. Jackson: Good. Good. Good. Good. It's good to hear you there. Many listening ears around America and the world for our conversation today. Michael: Yes. Rev. Jackson: Good. Good. Good. Good. Michael: Good. Rev. Jackson: We'll my friends lets get this conversation started. We have a shared conversation with our nation. Stay right there. You don't want to miss this conversation with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. We'll be right back with Keep Hope Alive with the Reverend Jesse Jackson. [COMMERCIAL BREAK] Rev. Jackson: Welcome to Keep It Alive with Reverend Jesse Jackson. Our regular Sunday morning talk show. Today we have a phenomenal guest in Michael Jackson. Michael has taken this phenomenal journey from ground zero to outer space. Good morning Michael. Michael: Good morning Jesse. How are you? Rev. Jackson: Good. Good. Good. Remember when we met on 47th Street way, way many years ago. Your father brought you and the guys by the office in your station wagon and U-Haul. You were performing at the Regal Theatre. Do you remember that? Michael: Yes, I do remember. It was a long time ago. I was just very little. Rev. Jackson: What do you remember about that period? Michael: Oh, I remember what we were wearing kinda like dashikis (sic) and bell-bottoms pants and I just remember the love from the public was very great and accepting of what we had to offer. And the support from you know the people from the times was just beautiful, the black people was fantastic. You were always very kind to us as well. Rev. Jackson: Good. Good. Good. Did your mom make those outfits? Michael: Yes she did. She always made all of our clothes. My mother would sew and stitch everything. Everything we wore before we really making it at Motown. Rev. Jackson: I remember so well that uh Julius Griffin and up your dad came over and asked if you guys could be a warm-up act at Expo, and we had to make room for you in our schedule and you guys stole the show. Michael (laughs): I remember those shows. You had a big time Afro at that time. Rev. Jackson: Don't remind people of that Michael. You did so very well. (Michael laughs) Rev. Jackson: During that time you were being whipped up by Motown. Who discovered you for Motown? Michael: Well in complete truth, it was Gladys Knight and a guy named Bobby Taylor. And they were on the bill of some of the shows who were doing that you would see like.you would do a show and there would be like twenty or thirty acts. It was pretty much like Bonneville. You would do just a certain number of songs and you would go off. They were always on these shows. And they would watch us and they were so impressed with what we were doing. And Barry Gordy wasn't interested at first. But eventually he loved us and wanted to sign us. And after being signed, and uh, since Diana Ross was their biggest star at the time, that he used her as the vehicle to.you know.introduce us to the public. The first album was called "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson Five". Rev. Jackson: At that time, who was your favorite artist? Michael: Oh God, I loved Diana Ross and uh, I loved James Brown, I still do. I love all these artists.still to this day. I love Jackie Wilson. The real show stoppers. You know the real entertainers. Rev. Jackson: did you did. Michael (interrupts): Sammy Davis, Jr, I loved him as well (laughs). Rev. Jackson: Did you get any of your moves from Jackie Wilson? Michael: Oh yes of course! All these artists inspired me very much. I couldn't help but be inspired by these great entertainers. Rev. Jackson: A little later, remember we were out in Los Angeles and at that time Suzanne dePasse was your the godmother for the group and she had you at Fred Seigel's shopping for some, shopping for some jeans. Michael: Yes! Remember Suzanne dePasse, she was so wonderful, you know. She was pretty much our manager with my father at the time and with Tony Jones. They were all wonder people. I thank them from the bottom of my heart, you know. Rev. Jackson: She was such a wonderful person, and she remains, she's so top-notch in that what she does. Michael: Yes, she is. She was very helpful and instrumental in the early days of our careers that she remains a friend. And I do, I do.I miss her. I haven't seen her in awhile. She remains a wonderful person. so does Berry Gordy. Rev. Jackson: Michael in this whole developmental period. I call it ground zero like Gary and the Regal Theatre and the Expo and early meeting of Barry Gordy and Motown, would you reflect, what was out of this period that you remember the most? Michael: Which period was this now? Jessie: Kinda like this period of Gary, to the Regal Theatre, to Expo to meeting Gladys Knight, to going to Motown. From what about this period that stands out the most in your mind? Michael: This period for me which stands out is because I was so young around that time. I was like eight, eight or nine. I just remember the environment, what it was like, all the music I was hearing. My father played guitar. My uncle played guitar. Everyday they would come over, and you know they would play great music. And we would start to perform to the music. I remember seeing marching bands go down the street. I would remember the rhythm of the band and the beats of the drum. And every sound around me seem to record in my head and start making rhythms and dancing. I use to dance to the rhythm of the washing machine. My mother went to the corner store to wash the clothes. I would dance to the rhythm and people would crowd around. I remember those kind of stories. They would crowd around pretty much and watch me. Those kind of little things. They are reflections really. Rev. Jackson: Well, you remember you said that Jackie Wilson, and James Brown and Sammy Davis were heroes. Did you ever see them perform? Michael: Yes, of course I did and they were friends of mine. All these great artists. That's why I was so lucky. I was just such a little kid, looking up to these people. We were real catatonic, awestruck with their talent. Not only did I get to see it, but I got to see it close up right on the side curtain, on the side of the wings. I got to know these great artists. These were the best entertainers in the world. They were show stoppers. And I would have to go onstage sometime after them, you know. It was amazing! Rev. Jackson: But the thing is that at first I remember Tito and Jermaine you were like so little, so small. You was part of the Jackson Five. At what point did you know that you realize you were a show stopper? Michael: You know when you have a special ability. You don't realize it because you think everybody else has the same gift that you have. So you don't realize it. When I used to sing at such a young age, people were so inspired by my singing and they loved it. I didn't realize why they were clapping or crying or start to scream. I really truly didn't Jesse. And it just uhm, just later on in life, people would come up to me and say you know do you realize you have a special gift or you have a special talent. I just remember from my mother who is very religious always telling us to always thank God, to thank Jehovah God for your talent, your ability. You know it's not from, it's not our doing, and it's from above. So we were always humbled by people would come with accolades or you know, adulations or whatever it is. You know, it was a beautiful thing. Rev. Jackson: When did you stop going to school formerly? Michael: Oh I was very young. I think it was.oh boy, hmmm. I think it was the fifth, fifth, fourth or fifth I think. Then I had tutoring the rest of my life. Because we did so many tours and concerts and TV shows and things, all the albums and all the recordings because we would have three hours of schooling, then we would do the concerts, then we travel to another state or another country. Then by that time we would do some concerts again and then it would be time to record the next J5 album, then after the J5 album, it was time for another Michael Jackson album. So in my youth, as a little kid, I was always busy. I remember across the street from Motown recording studio, there was a park. I used to hear the roar of the kids and the throwing of the football and the basketball. I remember going to the studio everyday, and I was just feeling kinda sad, because I wanted to go to that park. But I knew I had a different job to do, you know so going in and make the records. All day till late at night, then you would go to sleep, then you were up for the next day, just the same regimentation. Rev. Jackson: Does that insintu-. you missed a certain body of childhood experience. How did you compensate for this loss of ordinary childhood experience? Michael: I-I - It's true. I didn't have a childhood. But, when you don't have a childhood like people like myself and other child stars, you try to compensate for the loss for later on you try to catch up. That's why you see, like you may see a theme park or amusement rides, that type of environment at my home. But what I like to do is help other children who are less fortunate than I am. You know kids who are terminally ill, kids who have diseases, poor children from the inner cities, you know the ghettos, to let them see the mountains, or to let see or go on the rides, or to watch a movie or to have some ice cream or something. Rev. Jackson: Of course one of the difference about you Michael, you did have a family. How many of, how many is in the family? Michael: The immediate Jackson family? Rev. Jackson: Yeah. Michael: There were originally ten of us. There's nine. There's nine. And my mother Katherine and Joseph Jackson are still alive. We all were born in Gary, Indiana. Rev. Jackson: Well in that setting, did Tito and Jermaine beat up on you and give you some normal childhood experiences as a younger brother? Michael: We would be on tour. We would go to Miami. We would, you know, be able to use the beaches. We were so popular at that time. Wherever the Jackson Five would go, there would be a mob scenes. We couldn't go in the shopping center or anywhere because there were kids screaming. We had hit records back to back to back. We were playing these arenas all across America. And so it was difficult. We would did get to have a chance to have some fun in the hotel. We would have pillow fight in the hotel or if we wanted to swim after hours, we swim in the pool downstairs. You know that type of thing Rev. Jackson: Who would win the pillow fights? Michael: Pretty much Tito or Jackie. [laughs] They were the oldest. Jessie: You know you kind of grown from this kind of phenomenal rise to the artist that has sold the most records in history. You look back from that period that we call Ground Zero to the period of your maturing in writing. Who was your greatest influence in learning to write? You write so well. Michael: My greatest influence learning to write music. I think this is when I was lucky. In my opinion, I came into the Factory, the greatest song writers at that time in the sixties. Holland, Dozier, Holland of Motown. These two guys were phenomenal. You know, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland. These guys were amazing. They wrote all the great Supreme hits and the Four Top hits. They were just amazing. And I got to learn and work with these guys. And I love of course some of the Beatles stuff. I love the Beatles music actually. I love a lot of the show tune writers. Richard Rogers, and Oscar Hammerstein and Leonard Lowe and Harold Arland, Johnny Mercer and these kind of show tune. I love melody. I love the great Irish pub songs. I love English melody. The rhythms of Africans. Which is the roots of rhythm . That's my favorite music. That's my favorite music of the world because all music is defined from that. Africa is music. It is the origin. It is the dawn of existence. You can't avoid that. It is in everything that is about myself. Rev. Jackson: So much as you went through these stages and you began to write, sing and dance, did you ever have like a dancing coach? Michael: You know what, I never studied dancing before. It always became natural for me. Whenever I was little, any music would start, they couldn't sit me down. They couldn't tie me down actually. Even to this day, if anyone played a beat, I'll start kicking in and making counter rhythms to the beat that I'm hearing. It's just a natural instinct. I never studied. And Fred Astaire who was a good friend of mine, and Gene Kelly, they used to always marvel at my ability for dance. When I was a little kid, Fred Astaire used to always tell me how that he knew in his heart that I would be a special star. I used to just look at him thinking what are you talking about? [laughs] But uh, you could see, you know Rev. Jackson: Michael, where did the moonwalk come from? [laughs] Michael: The moonwalk is a dance. I would love to take credit for but I can't because I have to be completely honest here. These black children in the ghettos are, they have the most phenomenal rhythm of anybody on the Earth. I'm not joking. I learned, I get a lot of ideas from watching these black children. They have perfect rhythm. From just riding through Harlem, I remember in the early, you know, late 70's early 80's, I would see these kids dancing on the street and I would see these kids doing these, uh sliding backwards kinda like an illusion dancing I call it. I took a mental picture of it. A mental movie of it. I went into my room upstairs in Encino, and I would just start doing the dance, and create and perfect it. But, it definitely started within the black culture. No doubt. That's where it comes from. Rev. Jackson: Well then, connected to that piece when you were dancing, did you ever watch Don Cornelius Soul Train? Michael: Oh I love that show. Are you kidding? Of course I did. I would wait for the Soul Train line. They would have a line that they would make, like a wall of people and the dancer would come through the middle, dancing to the song. It would give them a chance to showcase their talent and what they could do with their body creatively. I used to watch that catatonically, just watching that! I was mesmerized by uh, and studied the rhythms and the dancing of course. Of course I watched it. [laughs] (19:17) Rev. Jackson: Michael, you know as you look back, you kinda make this kind of transition from ground zero in Gary and you begin to ascend, and you became, in many ways, a man in a child's body and I mean, you never gained any weight! How did you manage? Michael: (laughs) Well, I've never been a great eater, I've, uh ~~ to tell a little secret, I hate to tell it, uh, I've never been ahhh, great eater or a great admirer food, even though I appreciate food and the gift of food and how God has given us food to eat, but my mother has always had a hard time with me, all my life, uh, forcing me to eat ~~ Elizabeth Taylor used to feed me ~~ hand feed me at times, because I-I-I I do have a problem with eating, but, I - I do my very best, and I am eating, yes I am! So I don't - Please, uh, I don't want anyone to think I'm starving, I am not . Rev. Jackson: But you've. Michael: My health is perfect actually. Rev. Jackson: You've maintained this weight man, that's what people is most jealous of and so excited about. Michael: No no, my health is perfect actually, I'm a great believer in holistic natural foods and eating and (sp) herbs and things, you know, God's medicine, instead of Western chemicals, not those things, you know. Rev. Jackson: You know Michael, as you look back on this phenomenal career, you-you remember at least the 5th grade in Gary and how you guys became a- a big hit so-so quickly, what do you remember, what is to you, the high point, you know ~~ I've asked people all week long the high point for them - it may have been Thriller, it may have been Beat It, it may have been some performance, what for you represents the kind of ah, high point? Michael: Well, one of the great high points, ahem, I would have to say... because I remember before '82, in the early '80s ~~ I had done an album called 'Off The Wall' - it was an important point for me because I had just the movie 'The Wiz' and I wanted to express myself as a writer, as an ah, artist, you know to write my own music, do the music, pretty much put it together. And Quincy Jones, who I've loved - I was fortunate to work with him and I love this man, he is very gifted. But I was writing these songs at the time, 'Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, you know, 'Shake Your Body to The Ground', you know 'Billie Jean', and 'Beat It', you know, all these songs were written at this time. Ahem, so I pretty much was setting mental goals of what I want to do as an artist and I uh, it was a high point for me, during the uh, the winning of the Grammys for the 'Off The Wall' album, but I wasn't happy. Because I wanted to do much more than that... I wasn't happy with, uh ahem, the way it was accepted, even though it was a HUGH success, it was the biggest selling album for a solo artist at that time ~~ it was over 10 million, and ahem, ahem, for a Black solo artist. And I said for the next album, I refuse for them to ignore, and that's when I set my heart (clears throat), on-on writing the Thriller album and I really said I ---- Rev. Jackson: What-what-what gave rise to The Thriller? Michael: Pardon? Rev. Jackson: What gave rise to The Thriller? Michael: What gave rise to 'Thriller' was that the time, was pretty much disappointed and hurt - I lived in an area called Encino, and I used to see signs of graffiti saying "Disco Sucks" and "Disco is this" and "Disco is that" and disco was just a happy medium of making people dance at the time, but it was so popular, that the uhem, uhem, society was turning against it. I said, I'm just going to do a great album, because I love, uhem, the album Tchaikovsky did, The Nutcracker Suite, it's an album where every song is like a great song. I said I wanted to do an album where every song is like a hit record, and that's what pretty much the hit, 'Thriller' spawn from that. And I did that album and it made, er, all time history, the Guinness Book of World Records proclaimed that it was the largest selling album of all time and it's still to this day and I'm, er, I would say that it was a pinnacle, that was a - I'd reached a certain zenith point, I would think, but I still wasn't er, pleased after that - I was always wanting to do more, wanting to do more. And Rev. Jackson: And somewhat you--- Michael: And the Victory tour came along. Rev. Jackson: And somewhat you reached out, before we get to the Victory tour, and we had this phenomenal crisis of people dying and you used your celebrity to pull artists together to do 'We Are The World'. Michael: Yes. Rev. Jackson: What was that like? Michael: 'We Are The World' was a great project, because er, ah, Quincy Jones called me on the phone and he asked me to write a song, for ahem, for ah, ahem, the devastation that was going on in Africa ~~ and Ethopia was hit very badly, and he knew my love for the people over there, because I would go to Africa all the time. I-I loved the culture, I love the people, I love what they represent, and er, so I put this song together, he said let Lionel Richie help you (clears throat), so Lionel came over ~~ we started, you know, putting ideas together, and ahem, we talked most of the time because we pretty much caught up with old times because I've been knowing Lionel Richie for many, many years, and ahem, so Lionel, er, and I put something together, but I wasn't happy with it completely, so after that, I just went into the studio myself and pretty much completed it and finished it and packaged it and did all the music, put everything together and turned it in. Quincy was very impressed with it and he said this is the song, we're going to go with it and we put the song out and it became the biggest selling song single in history and it raised a lot of money. It was called 'USA For Africa' and we heightened, it heightened, er public awareness on the subject. It was relief for Africa, it was a beautiful thing. We gave a certain percentage to America and the majority share went to Africa. It was a great, great thing. Rev. Jackson: Reverend Jessie Jackson, Keep Hope Alive, our very special guest for our edition today, with Michael Jackson. So many people are listening all around the nation, all around the world ~~ just a kinda family talk with Michael, I've known him since he was like seven years old, but the entire family ~~ at some point in time, his father, driving a ahem, station wagon with a U-haul brought the guys by our office and asked if they would be a warm up act for Expo and of course, they were a warm up act, in fact, they set it on fire and the Expo was never quite the same again. Matter of fact Michael, when we did the film 'Save the Children' that was a big hit too. Michael: Yes it was, yes it was.. I remember those times. it was a little cloudy, but I do remember Jesse and I remember how wonderful you were to us and uh, I remember the love from the audience and I could hear the screaming of the crowd. and I could see all of the Afros and the dashikis and er, it was just a wonderful time, it was a wonderful cause. Rev. Jackson: On that show, it was Marvin Gaye, and Roberta Flack, and Michael: Ah!!! Rev. Jackson: . and the O'Jays Michael: Wow!!! Rev. Jackson: . and the Staples Singers and er. Michael: Wow. Rev. Jackson: .Cannonball Adderley, it was a huge deal. Michael: That's amazing ~~ an amazing list of people, that's some of the greatest talent ever - that's amazing. Rev. Jackson: We going to re-release the 'Save the Children' sometime soon and people who missed that period will really enjoy watching it. Michael, you know, when we think about the-the kind of rise from Gary, Indiana, you were but a child and you went through your teenaged years being tutored along, but then I remember another phase, I-I think is a another phase, when the Victory Tour occurred. At that time, you were a full grown ~~ all of your brothers and sisters were full grown and we met in Kansas City, remember? With your family? Michael: Yes. Rev. Jackson: . We all had prayer together, ahem. Michael: Yes we did. Rev. Jackson: The Victory Tour. Describe that season. Michael: The Victory Tour was one of the great pinnacles of our-our, my success because Thriller had won more Grammys than any other album in the history of - of music, and it created so much phenomenon and such adulation and notoriety at the universal level, and it was very, very hard to-to go anyway, do anything without press and helicopters and people sleeping in your bushes and hiding in your trees, and it was just a phenomenal pinnacle, it really was and after all of that, I announced that I was going to tour. And to tour and perform those songs live, in front of an audience so the world was going just really, really wild at that time. And we did this tour that broke records all over America and we played stadiums, for instance, the-the setting record at Dodgers Stadium, before we played it, it was one show and a half by Elton John. We did 8 shows there - sold out, and they wanted another 2 - so we did 8 sold out shows there. (Clears throat) This happened all over America ~~ the first city was Kansas City and that's where we met with you Jessie and I remember you coming to the suite and you gave prayer and it was a beautiful thing and ah, it was an amazing time, it really was. My dreams had come true. Rev. Jackson: Good. Good. But you know Michael, in this life, they say some rain must fall and you've had these seasons of just ahem, tailwinds like pushing you forward. But life is of such that's not a straight line, ah, some argue you either in a storm, or you are just leaving a storm, and going to a storm and it's not difficult to handle the sunshine of bright skies, tailwinds days, but then these headwinds come that kind of uh, test what you really are made of, the kind of test your metal, your true grit. And so you've had these high points. What do you consider to be the low point? Michael: Probably the low point, the lowest point, emotionally and experience, is probably what I'm going through (clears throat). Rev. Jackson: In the sense - what, what about it has kind of stung you? Michael: What about it . has what? Rev. Jackson: Has stung you, so to speak. Michael: Has, .. Use the word again. Rev. Jackson: STUNG. You said it's kind of hurt you, you said the low point. Michael: Yeah, just the pain of what I'm going through, where I'm being accused of something, where I know in my heart and in my experiences in life I'm totally innocent, and it's very painful. But this has been kind of, ah, a pattern among Black luminaries in this country. Rev. Jackson: And so since, you-you have been going through this and you feel the pain, you think it's a kind of pattern? How are you handling it spiritually? Because you go from being held so high and now your very character, your very integrity is under attack. How your handling it? Michael: I'm handling it by using other people in the past who have gone through this sort of thing. Mandela's story is giving me a lot of strength, what he's gone through and the Jack Johnson story was on PBS ~~ it's on DVD now. It's called 'Unforgivable Blackness'. It's an amazing story about this man from 1910 who was the heavyweight champion of the world and bust into a society that didn't want to accept his position and his lifestyle, and what they put him through, and how they changed laws to imprison the man. They put him away behind bars just to get him some kind of way. And-and Muhammad Ali's story. All these stories. The Jesse Owens story. All these stories that I can go back in history and read about gives me strength Jessie. Your story gives me strength, what you went through. Because I didn't, I came in at the tail end of the Civil Rights Movement ~~ I'm a, ah - I-I didn't get the really, I'm a 70's child, really, but I got in on the tail end of the Civil Rights Movement and I got to see it, you know? Rev. Jackson: And so, you-you-you-you had these hits, ahem, and people that you have embraced are now facing you in court on a daily basis. How does your spirit handle that? Michael: Ah, I gained strength from God. I believe in Jehovah God very much and ah, and I gain strength from the fact that I know I'm innocent ~~ none of these stories are true ~~ they are totally fabricated, and it's very sad, it's very, very painful. And I pray a lot and er, that's how I deal with it and I'm a strong person, I'm a warrior. And I know what's inside of me. I'm a fighter. But it's very painful. At the end of the day, I'm human, you know, I'm still a human being. So it does hurt very, very, very much. Rev. Jackson: You and I were watching, you know you and I were talking last week on the phone and - and there was this rhythm of the trial, which we will not get into at all today, but then they shifted from the focus of the trial to say you are broke. And last week, people are calling in, all around the nation saying, "Is Michael broke"? Michael, are you broke??? Michael: That's not true at all. It's one of their many schemes to embarrass me and to just drag me through mud. And it's the same pattern, like I told you before with these other people in the past. Same pattern. Don't believe, you know, this is tabloid, sensationalized kind of gossip. Rev. Jackson: Well, how did the money issue get in it in the first place? Some people called and they thought it was about the Sony catalog. What's- what's in that catalog? Michael: In my Sony Catalog, is all the Beatles music, ahem, all of the music I own - I own Sly and the Family Stone, I-I own such a volume of so many, I own Elvis - so many Elvis songs and it's a huge catalog, very valuable, it's worth a lot of money. And there is a big fight going on right now, as we speak about that. Now, I can't say whether or not - I can't comment on it, but there's a lot of conspiracy, I'll say that - conspiracy going on as we speak. Rev. Jackson: It was suggested by a number of your friends and family members was that this fight was really more about this catalog issue than it is any thing else. Do you believe that? Michael: Well, you know, I don't want to comment. I don't want to make a comment, Jessie ah-it's a real delicate issue and uh, I'll let you, I'll let you make the comment on that one. Rev. Jackson: Let me shift this to this extent. Ahem, since so many people are listening and there have been so many opinions - I was in London a couple of weeks ago, and 24/7 was Michael Jackson all-day-long and all-night-long and the day that you came to the hospital late [to court], you said you were injured. What happened that day? Michael: I was coming, er, out of the shower and I-I-I fell. And all my body weight, and I'm pretty fragile, all my body weight fell against my rib cage. And I pretty much, er, er, I bruised my lung very badly. My lung is on the right, it's very [sp], it's, I'm in pain as we speak and ah, I've been going to court everyday in immense pain and agonizing pain. And I sit there - and I'm strong, I try to be as strong as I can. So I can, ahh, but what we are looking for is the coughing of blood now. The doctor said I should - he said it's still very dangerous as we speak, and if I cough the blood, he said it's a very dangerous thing, so we're, we're still watching it very closely. Rev. Jackson: The cynics said you were faking. And it seems that the judge is [sic] will not even willing to believe you, even though you had just left the hospital. Michael: You know the - there's no faking with this at all. I mean there was a scan done and you could see, uhhh, the swelling on my whole rib cage, I mean, uh, it was you could see it and it's bright red. And how it, it [the fall] busted my chin, and it put a huge gash over my forehead, blood, it was er, it was very bad actually. And er, but errr, we've treating it actually, I do have some medicine for it, but we are watching it very closely. Rev. Jackson: As I listen to your talking about this whole ordeal that you are going through, and how you've er, stood strong sometimes amazingly so, ah, at some point last week, you - you cried. What-what touched you? What made you, breakdown, as it were? Michael: You mean at court? Rev. Jackson: Yeah. Michael: I was in pain. I was sitting there hurting. And er, the pain was so immense, all I could do was to sit there and cry. See, because it er, it was so intense at that moment, ah, ahem, I just couldn't handle it. So I just grab tissues and just put it to my face. and. Rev. Jackson: So, it was more about your personal pain, than the, than the challenges of the, from the stand? Michael: No, it had nothing to do with what was going on inside. It was totally with personal pain, physical pain. Rev. Jackson: Michael, since so many people are listening, I'm trying to gleam from some of our calls on the phone today and from last week, as people listen to you, what do you want people to know? Those listening to you on the phone - I see calls from Philadelphia, and from Holland and from Britian and New York and Mississippi and Florida, California - what do you want people to know? Michael: About? Rev. Jackson: About you. About where you are now in the head, how you are feeling? Michael: Well, ahem, pretty much to-to be strong for me, to pray for my children and my family and myself. This is uh.uh very difficult time and to not believe what they hear, and see and read and just because it's in print does not make it. just because it's in print does not make it the gospel. And uh. you know, because they have sensationalized this thing to an immense degree. It's a feeding frenzy - it's because of uh, my celebrity. The bigger the celebrity, the bigger the target. And they have to remember that. So they've turned this into money - it's like who gets the biggest ratings, you know, it's terrible what's happened with it. But it's part of what I have to suffer [through] as a celebrity. It's part-part of what I have to go through. And to just uh, just know in the end that I will be vindicated, I pray, because I know the truth. I'm an innocent person. And I believe in God and love God. And just continue to pray for us. Rev. Jackson: You know that, given your faith, in God and in yourself, and your declaration of innocence and while you are going through this storm ahem, presuming that you ah - win this, this has been a close battle, ahhh, a very intense battle, because the battle is-is not over, ah, the, appearance, given your relationship ahh, has called for lots of consternation. Is there anything that you will do differently? When this season is over? Michael: Is there anything that I would do differently? Rev. Jackson: Differently? When this season is over? Michael: (Clears throat) Ahem, my level of trust will change. And ah, there-there there's a lot of conspiracy going on. I'll say that much. A lot of it. Rev. Jackson: Do you think that.. Michael: All around me. Rev. Jackson: Is the conspiracy connected to the celebrity or to the trial or to the catalog - what do you think the source of it is? Michael: I-I can't comment. I can't comment Jessie, I-I don't wanna. it ah, I'm under a gag order and it's a very serious thing. I don't want to say the wrong thing. With the wrong flavor. It's a very delicate area. Very delicate where we are now. Rev. Jackson: Good. Good. Let me ask you this question though, that for those who are praying fervently, want to help and look forward to seeing Michael Jackson again. What can people expect next from you? Michael: Well, like-like I always say, I'm-I'm a person of the arts. I love the arts very, very, very much. And ah, I'm a musician, I'm a director, I'm a writer, I'm a composer, I'm a producer, and I love the medium. I love film very, very much. I think it's the most expressive of all of the art mediums. The sculptor can sculpt, the painter can paint, but they capture a moment, ah, they freeze time with the moment. In film, you live the moment. You live, you have the, audiences for two hours. You have their brain, their mind - you can take them any place you want to take them. You know, and that idea is mesmerizing to me - that you can have the power to do people, to move people to change their lives and that's where you to marry the music [and the] individual together. And that's what excites me so much about film and the future. Because I love motion pictures very, very much. Rev. Jackson: Given, ah, the, heat that is on you and the taxing issue that you are facing now, does it deter you from pursuing your career when this is over? Michael: No! No. Not at all. Because ahem, I know who I am (clears throat) inside and outside and I know what I want to do. And I will always - er - you know, go with my dreams and my ideals in life. And I'm a very courageous person and I believe in perseverance, determination, and-and, you know, and all those wonderful things, and those ideals are very important for a person who is goal-orientated, you know? Rev. Jackson: Since people have-have risen so high and so far with your dreams, what are, what are you dreaming of now? Michael: Oh ahem (clears throat), like I was saying before, ahem, it's to innovate, to tie in the medium of-of film, and there's other things I want to do, which are some surprises. Ah, things in society that I want to do in the future. You know, in Africa. I have some great plans, ah, that I've been preparing to do there. I'd had several meetings with people whose flown out to see me since I've been going through what I've been going through and so my heart is set on doing some things there, very much so as well. Rev. Jackson: You ah, your next project. Because often when people at a stage like this is kind of frozen, but you're thinking about the next project. What do you see as the next immediate project? What's hitting you right now? Michael: Probably, ahemmm. the tsunami song that we want to do to raise money for tsunami because Africa was ummm, was it Madagascar? One of those countries. Rev. Jackson: Indeed. Madagascar. Michael: Somalia and Madagascar was hit very hard, and they never.talk about that, the way they talk about the other countries. Now, we have, I mean, uh, my heart is going out for everybody, but at least, when they distribute the truth, distribute it right and ahem, it - they never talk about the devastation down in Africa, so we ~~ I wanna do something for that. And of course, I've been working on doing, planning a resort that I'm building down in Africa. Ah, beautiful hotels, ah, just a beautiful setting for people and families and something beautiful down there. There a lot of beautiful places down there. So I want to do something that is more international. You know? Rev. Jackson: Well, you know, it's interesting about the tsunami with this huge national - natural disaster uh, couldn't be stopped, maybe if we had early detection devices, we could have saved some lives perhaps, but it was a natural disaster, but what you raised is that while that we've lost 200,000 lives in the tsunami, we've lost 2 million in the Sudan and that's a manmade disaster and oil and materials all caught up in that stuff, and then 4 million in the Congo. And ah, and I think as we talk about it, you know you and I talk almost everyday, you are reaching out to these African crisis - appears to have er, taken up a large part of your dream at this stage in your life. Michael: Yes it has. Because Jessie, in my heart, deepest of heart, I really love Africa and I love the people of Africa. That's why, whenever I get the chance, the children and I, we jump on the plane and fly to Africa and we vacation there. I spend more of my vacation in Africa than in any other country. And ah, we love the people and we love the environment. Topographically, one of the most beautiful places on the surface of the Earth. They never show the sandy white sugar beaches, and it's there! And they never show the beautiful, you know the landscaping, never show the buildings, the metropolis and urban - Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kenya, ur, you know the Ivory Coast ur, you know, Rwanda, how beautiful the place is! And it's really stunningly beautiful! And I want to heighten that awareness with what I'm doing and it's been my dream for many, many years. And everybody around me knows that, because I go there very much. Rev. Jackson: You know, we knew about the high points of Rome, because we see it on film. Michael: That's right. Rev. Jackson: We know about the high points of Britain and the palace, we see it on film. On Paris, we don't see much of Africa on film. We see Africa as misery and Africa as problems. We do not see it as being this phenomenally endowed continent of sand and sea and Michael: Because the. Rev. Jackson: oil and resources. Michael: Because, yeah. The world is jealous of Africa for many centuries because it's natural resources is phenomenal. It really is. And it is the dawn of civilization. The history, a lot of our bible history is right there in Africa. And King Tut, all those great civilizations - that is right there in Africa. Egypt is in Africa!!! And they always try to separate the two, but Egypt is Africa!!! Rev. Jackson: Well, it's certainly true that when Jesus was threatened, ah, with death, when Harod sent out the edict for [the] genocide of all of the first born babies, that Joseph took him to Egypt, to Africa, kept him there for 12 years. Michael: That's right. That's right. Rev. Jackson: You've shown an amazing level of depth and commitment. Let me say this and in closing Michael, because people are listening and the reason I didn't want to open up the lines today is because you have, you're sharing stuff with us that you never quite really hear, but as people go and watch the trial next week and the coming days, what do you want your fans. we have callers on here right now from London, Holland and all around America, so people out there are listening today to you. What do you want to say to your fans and even to your detractors today? Michael: I just wanna say: fans in every corner of the Earth, every nationality, every race, every language, I love you from the bottom of my heart. You know, thank you for your love and support and understanding during this trying time. I would love your prayers, and your goodwill. Ah, and ah, please be patient and be with me and believe in me because I am completely, completely innocent. But please know a lot of conspiracy is going on at this time as we speak. Rev. Jackson: Well, it's Easter time, ah, we fall down, we get back up again. The good news is that nothing is too hard for God. And those who believe, fervently believe, no matter how far down that they reach for a rope and not a shovel. They'd be pulled up and they will rise again. Michael, thank you for sharing yourself with the nation today, and the world and for getting up so early in California . Michael: God bless you. Rev. Jackson: God bless you and keep hope alive. Talk to you a minute off the air, okay? Michael: Bye-bye. Rev. Jackson: Alright. |
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-- In a setback for Michael Jackson's defense, prosecutors will be allowed to introduce evidence of past molestation allegations against the singer, relating to five previous alleged victims, the judge ruled Monday. One of the four named in court Monday is child movie star Macaulay Culkin, who defended Jackson and denied any allegations of molestation during an interview with CNN's "Larry King Live" in May 2004. "Nothing happened," Culkin, now 24, told King. Culkin's publicist, Michelle Bega, said Monday that he has no plans to testify in the case. And Mesereau said Culkin, a frequent visitor to Jackson's Neverland Ranch, "has repeatedly said he was never molested." It has already been confirmed that Culkin is on the defense list and will testify for Jackson if need . Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon said only one alleged victim will testify. Testimony in the other four cases will come from nine third-party witnesses, he said. Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. asked Judge Rodney Melville to exclude the allegations, saying they were based on third parties, many of whom were after Jackson's money. The reference was to former Jackson employees who sued the singer in the past and lost, and were then ordered to pay the singer $1 million in damages. Mesereau told the judge that the defense would put on a "mini-trial" on each allegation that is allowed in. "You can't stop the defense from putting on a full-blown defense and I mean just that," the defense attorney warned. Mr. Mesereau offered this argument, challenging the court to consider the prosecution's motivation for insisting upon using the prior allegations to substantiate their weak case. Mr. Mesereau: "...what has the Court seen in this courtroom? Is the case strong on credibility and substance or is it weak on credibility and substance? If it's really powerful, the Court probably is less worried. If there are credibility problems with their case and their witnesses, the Court has great concern to worry because the potential for lessening the burden of proof on the prosecution in this case would be great. Now, the Court is dealing with some unique situations. First of all, you have a celebrity. A celebrity who has been subjected to all kinds of innuendo, scandalous reporting and rumor, and a celebrity who has attracted all kinds of claims for money, who has developed a lifestyle at Neverland which he has advertised to the world, which he believes and contends, and many believe, is a benefit to society. The prosecution has come in to try and turn all this on its head and suggest that Neverland is some magnet for molestation and criminal behavior. Well, that's going to be an issue for the jury. But certainly at this point the Court knows, based on the evidence alone, that Mr. Jackson has developed Neverland as a Disney-like type of world that he uses to help children from the inner city, children around the world, et cetera. There's a bigger problem than the uniqueness of the case, and none of the cases cited by Mr. Sneddon deal with celebrities or anyone remotely close to Mr. Jackson in terms of notoriety and attraction for greed and misuse of the legal process. "The Court has seen three witnesses who the Court -- who the prosecution suggests are victims. And without going into a lot of the details, which I don't think the Court wants me to give a closing argument at this point, but there is no question all three of those witnesses have been riddled with problems in their testimony. All have agreed they lied repeatedly. All were caught lying on the witness stand. All were themselves repeatedly. Every witness was a problem. Now, if the Court agrees there are significant credibility problems with Gavin Arvizo, Star Arvizo, and Davellin Arvizo -- and I believe the Court does, because I don't see how anyone watching the cross-examination could disagree with that. If the Court thinks there are issues to worry about, I would ask the Court to add to that concern the following: Gavin alleges two acts of alleged molestation. There is no eyewitness to either one. And there is no DNA to support it. In fact, there's no forensic evidence at all to support it. Star, along with his credibility problems, alleges - it changes, the number. But he appears to allege two acts of molestation, separate from those of Gavin that he watched. There is no eyewitness. There is no DNA. There is no forensics to support it. "So as the Court looks at the evidence so far, what do you really have? You have what, in effect, is a very problematic case, and I submit the prosecutors know that. It's extremely problematic. It's filled with credibility issues. And those credibility issues I submit to the Court at this point are compounded by the evidence they've tried to introduce so far about conspiracy." Before Melville's ruling, Mr. Mesereau said that "willy-nilly third party witnesses" are "99 percent" of the evidence Sneddon wants to bring in. ." Mr. Jackson's lawyer called some of the witnesses "lying [former] plaintiffs" and he suggested that tainted bystanders were no substitutes for actual victims. MIKE TAIBBI: .Three of the five have denied publicly that they were ever abused by Michael Jackson. The other two accepted financial settlements in the millions of dollars. .Tom Mesereau, Jackson's lead defense attorney on the other hand brought back judge Melville's own statement in a pre-trial hearing to him saying that the judge once said in court -- he did, I was there -- that he would not allow this old evidence to be brought in rescue a weak case in chief. And Mesereau said in court that this case is a bad case that's going to get worse -- his words. That he'd been able to successfully impeach the testimony not just of the accuser, but of his key corroborating witnesses: his brother and his sister. .I keep saying "alleged" because it is that. It's going to be challenged. In fact Tom Mesereau said there will be, in his words, 'full blown trials' to challenge the credibility of each of these witnesses. By some estimates, outside the courtroom, this could add months to this trial. Some of these witnesses have made as many as 8 statements in prior depositions and in court testimony and in interviews with law enforcement.A number of observers who are aware of these facts have said that this will more than likely backfire for the prosecution. What is going to happen if the prosecution's witnesses-come-lately claim that these kids were molested and the defense calls these people to testify for Jackson? Some have speculated how Sneddon's cross examination of these so-called "accusers" will go, with Sneddon foaming at the mouth trying to convince a grown man on the stand that he was molested when he really wasn't. Thus, I guess if Sneddon doesn't have actual "victims", he's now in the process of manufacturing them. The ruling came in a hearing before resumption of testimony in which comic George Lopez told about helping Jackson's current accuser as the boy battled cancer. The comedian said he came to believe the boy's father was more interested in money than helping his son. Lopez said the father accused the comedian of stealing $300 from the boy's wallet. Jackson was not present during the arguments but arrived later to cheers from fans.Not looking the least bit worried at all, Jackson arrives with a smile on his face. The mother of Michael Jackson's accuser made a frantic phone call to the owner of a Los Angeles comedy club saying she and her children were being held against their will at the pop star's Neverland Ranch, the club owner testified Tuesday.The defense has repeatedly scoffed at the charge, noting that no one in the family tried to call police or get away during the time they were allegedly being held captive. The next year, after the boy was diagnosed with cancer, Masada said he visited him in the hospital frequently and also began giving the family money. Masada said he began encouraging the boy to eat, to regain his strength, even giving him $50 bills as a reward. So when the boy saw Jackson on a TV in the hospital and told Masada that he would like to meet him, Masada said he told the boy, "OK, if you eat." But because Masada had never met Jackson, he said he began calling "anybody I could" who might have a way to contact the pop star. The next day, Jackson called the boy in the hospital, and he was "so impressed, so grateful to hear from Michael," Masada said. Asked if he had ever met Jackson, Masada said he had not, until Tuesday in court. Then, he greeted Jackson, saying, "How are you?"The defendant waved. Masada testified the boy's father repeatedly asked him for money during the boy's bout with cancer, but the boy's mother did not. The tone changed when Masada, who owns the Laugh Factory club in Hollywood, was asked by Mesereau about comedian Louise Palanker, who testified last week. "She wants to be a comic," he said. "We help them. Sometimes you have to give them bad news." "You've told her she's not funny?" asked Mesereau. "Let me tell you," Masada said. "I find you more funny than she is." The boy earlier testified that Jackson took the watch off his wrist and handed it to him as a gift during the flight from California to Florida. Another stunning blow to the prosecution in the current case came by way of their own witness, flight attendant Cynthia Bell. This supposed prosecution witness completely blew holes in the accusing family's allegations. Prosecutors called Bell to corroborate the fact that Michael Jackson sometimes drinks wine out of a diet coke can.. Bell said the idea of serving Jackson alcoholic beverages in soda cans was her idea.She also described Jackson as a nervous flier . On the stand, she said she served Jackson white wine on that flight back from Florida to California that has become a point of contention. She didn't serve Jackson red wine. She also lambasted the accuser, Gavin Arvizo. She said that on that flight, he was extremely rude, discourteous, loud : 'Serve me my food, this isn't warm.' This is before the prosecution is alleging any "abuse" occurred. Bell said it was an embarrassment to have the accuser on board basically because he was just such a terrible passenger. She saw the accuser sitting next to Jackson but that Jackson's children Prince and Paris were always either beside him or on his lap during the flight. Bell also laid another bombshell before the jury: the accuser's sister, Davellin Arvizo, had a fake ID -- which Bell didn't know was fake at the time. Bell testified that the sister showed her the fake ID after the sister asked to be served alcohol. Reportedly, the sister previously claimed she'd never tasted alcohol before Jackson allegedly gave her some. Well, she had to have had extensive experience with alcohol to have a fake ID readily present to get alcohol when she wanted it. Bell also said under cross examination that she never saw Jackson give any kid alcohol and more importantly, she said she NEVER saw Jackson share that diet coke can of white wine with anybody. When Bell identified a photograph of the accuser, Mesereau asked her, "You told the grand jury he's a weird kid?" "Yes, I did," she said. On her way out of court, Bell shook hands with Jackson. The media has completely overlooked the fact that the defense found out Jordan Chandler, the 1993 accuser, filed for legal emancipation from both his parents after he received a settlement and after his biological father, Evan Chandler, sued Michael Jackson AGAIN and lost. 3760 |
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Testimony resumed Wednesday morning with more questioning of Cynthia Ann Bell, a flight attendant . She said the accuser was rude and demanding throughout the flight, at one point triggering a food fight by throwing mashed potatoes at Jackson's doctor. "He acted like I was his maid," Bell said. Under questioning by Mesereau, she said the boy's mother was aware of his rude behavior and didn't stop it. The flight attendant also said the boy had a wide range of unreasonable complaints. "His chicken was warm. 'I want a side of coleslaw. I don't want it on the same plate.' ... She characterized Mr. Jackson as a quiet, gentle man.She then described Mr. Jackson as "soft-spoken." "Typically, I'd have to kneel to gain eye contact with Mr. Jackson," Ms. Bell testified. Wednesday's court appearance by Dr. Stan Katz, a Beverly Hills psychologist who also treated a boy who accused the singer of a sex crime a decade ago, was widely anticipated to be a key moment in the trial.The D.A called Stan Katz to the stand and only questioned him for about 20 minutes. It was surprising that the prosecution didn't want to get into what the accuser told Katz; something that should be crucial to this trial. Katz to admit that when he talked to the accuser and family, he was under the impression that it was in preparation for a lawsuit attorney Larry Feldman was going to file against Jackson. But he was on the stand for only about an hour, after truncated questioning by the prosecution did not give the defense much room to grill him on cross-examination. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville had ruled earlier that Katz couldn't tell jurors whether he thought Jackson's teenage accuser and his family were credible, or whether he believed the events they described actually happened. Katz testified he conducted eight interviews in May and June 2003 with the accuser and his mother, brother and sister. He did not provide details of what they told him. The defense also got Katz to state for the record that during his own research, 40% or more of child molestation allegations turn out to be false. This directly contradicts another prosecution witness, an "expert" who claimed that only 2% or less turn out to be false. William Dickerman, took the stand Wednesday .Dickerman said he was hired by the mother in February 2003, after the documentary.She wanted Dickerman to write letters to networks who aired the program demanding that they stop using the boy's image, he said." He decided to refer them to Feldman because "he was the go-to guy with regard to Michael Jackson matters." Under cross-examination by the defense, Dickerman admitted he had an arrangement with Feldman under which he would share any legal fees generated by a successful civil suit against Jackson. The next month, after the family broke off contact with Jackson and left his Neverland Ranch for good, Dickerman said he also began sending letters to Mark Geragos, Jackson's attorney at the time. Dickerman conceded that in the letters he wrote to Geragos in the spring of 2003, he never mentioned anything about allegations of child molestation or alcohol consumption, or that the family claimed it had been held against its will at Neverland. Dickerman said he did not see any of the alleged harassment of the accuser's family by Jackson's camp that he mentioned in his letters to Geragos. In a related development, the lawyer for Christopher Eric Carter, a key prosecution witness who has been charged in a string of Nevada armed robberies, said Wednesday he has advised the former Jackson bodyguard not to testify at the trial. Michael Jackson arrived today for court again with another huge smile on his face.Jackson, attended court Wednesday with his parents. At one point as he was entering the Santa Monica courthouse, he playfully patted one of his bodyguards on the head. An attorney testified Friday the family never asked him to file a lawsuit against the pop star. The testimony by Larry Feldman seemed to support Jackson defense attorneys who contend that the boy's family sought money from the pop star. While he was on the stand, tempers appeared to be running short in the courtroom. Feldman seemed testy with both Sneddon and Mesereau, and Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville, while considering an objection, told Sneddon, "Don't give me that look." Also Friday, an investigator testified that linens seized by police from Jackson's bed failed to yield hair, fibers or DNA linked to the teenager accusing him of child molestation or the accuser's brother. "We took all bedding," said Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Klapakis, who oversaw the search warrant execution. Both the accuser and his brother claim they frequently slept in Jackson's bed, and allege that is where the molestation took place. Asked on redirect by prosecutors why the glasses and bottles were not tested for prints, Klapakis said, "It didn't enter in the investigation at the time." Jack Green, president of Affordable Telephone Systems, followed Klapakis to the stand. Green inspected Neverland's telephone system, and testified that Jackson's private telephone line was able to join in with or listen to conversations on any other line throughout the ranch. Under cross-examination, Green conceded there was nothing unusual about the system, and said that anyone could dial out or call 911 on it. |
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April |
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Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon said last week that he would begin presenting testimony about the previous allegations Monday. The presentation comes about two weeks earlier than originally expected, due to logistical problems in scheduling witnesses. Jesus Salas,a former manager at Neverland, told jurors that on one occasion, he took a bottle of wine and four glasses to Jackson's bedroom, where he was staying with several children, including his teenage accuser in the current criminal case and the boy's younger brother. However, Salas also said Jackson ordered sodas in addition to the wine. He said that Michael had other guests on the lower level of his bedroom so that clarifies the extra glasses Sneddon wanted to give the jurors the impression that the other glasses were for the kids. Jesus also testified that he saw Michael intoxicated in front of children including his own. Mesereau asked him if he was familiar with Michael's bout with pain killers. He said,"Yes". Mesereau asked him he could differentiate between being under the influence of painkillers (Michael had a few injuries that year) and being drunk. He said, "No". Salas also said that during a period of time the prosecution alleges the accuser and his family were being held against their will at Neverland in February 2003, the boy's mother never complained about being held captive. Family members left the ranch twice and came back, before leaving for good the third time, he said. The son of Michael Jackson's former personal maid testified Monday that Jackson initiated tickling sessions which escalated to the pop star fondling the boy -- after which Jackson would give him a $100 bill and tell him not to tell his mother about the money. The young man, now 24, told jurors in Jackson's child molestation trial that the first incident took place when he was about 7 years old. The young man said he told no one about what had happened until he was 13 -- when investigators looking into other allegations against Jackson interviewed him.His family later reached an out-of-court settlement with Jackson. Michael leaned back in his chair, yet he remained unmoved by the testimony. Francia admitted under cross-examination that he said: "They made me come up with a lot more stuff. They kept pushing. I wanted to hit them in the head". The defense pointed out that Francia repeatedly denied Jackson had ever done anything to him under police questioning. They also read from the transcripts of interviews Francia gave to police. The defense revealed that investigators were extremely aggressive with him. One investigator even cursed about Jackson in front of Francia. The defense got Francia to admit that he couldn't remember exact details of those interviews. "At first I was denying everything," the young man said, claiming he was scared and feared embarrassment at school. "You weren't even saying you were touched at all?" said Thomas Mesereau Jr. Jackson then-attorney Bert Fields wrote a letter to police saying ".your officers have told frightened youngsters outrageous lies, such as, 'we have nude photos of you,' to push them into making accusations against Michael Jackson. There are, of course, no such photos of these youngsters, and they have no truthful allegations to make. But the officers appeared ready to employ any device to generate potential evidence against Mr. Jackson." J. Francia's conveniently spotty memory also was called into question by the defense. He remembers things from 12 years ago under prosecution questioning and all of a sudden, he can't remember things he said late last year to investigators when asked by Mesereau. Mesereau got him to admit Jackson would "give him money whenever he read a book or got an A". The witness, who remained on the stand at day's end, repeatedly talked about being "molested" and Mr. Mesereau suggested he had been prompted to often use the word. Mesereau sought to show that the witness' mother had a financial interest in his story, asking if she had received $20,000 to appear on "Hard Copy" and had met with someone from The National Enquirer. The witness said he learned of the payment just days ago.... Mesereau pressed him on whether he told his story to anyone before detectives contacted him in 1993. At one point as Mesereau was asking about the financial settlement, the witness interjected, saying, "Other than the money he put down my pants?" Mesereau showed him a transcript and asked if that refreshed his recollection. The witness said no. "Do you remember anything you said in that interview?" asked the attorney. "No," said the witness. The witness also pleaded a poor memory when asked about whether his claims resulted in a criminal case. "I don't know much. I don't watch the news," he said. Michael Jackson's former personal maid testified Tuesday that she saw the pop star showering and laughing with a young boy at Neverland Ranch -- with their underwear lying outside the shower door.. When she walked inside, water was running, the radio was playing and she could see figures through the shower door, although the door itself was too cloudy to see through. She said she identified the voices as Jackson and the boy.Hard to believe that in that noise you could do a proper identification...She also said she knew the clothes. She said he would sleep overnight in Jackson's bedroom suite, and, when she went to change the linen, she would find only one of the two beds in the suite had been used.Nothing new-Michael had slept on the floor before... However, the woman said that in the years she worked for Jackson, she never saw him touch a child sexually. The former maid also said child movie star Macaulay Culkin stayed alone with Jackson in his bedroom when he visited for extended periods, though she did not say she saw any improper contact between the two. After the criminal probe of Jackson was derailed by the civil settlement in 1993, California lawmakers gave prosecutors the power to compel sexual abuse victims to testify if they refused to do so voluntarily. Kallman said the settlement reached between Jackson and his former maid and her son contained a confidentiality agreement. While it did not preclude the boy from talking to law enforcement officials, the settlement required Kallman to notify Jackson's attorneys five days before the boy talked to authorities, he said. Kallman said that notice was given before the former maid's son was reinterviewed in 2004.Kallman also said Jackson denied any wrongdoing in the settlement document. |
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A former security guard at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch testified Thursday that he saw the pop star performing oral sex on a young boy. The 46-year-old singer is accused of molesting another boy -- now 15 years old -- at Neverland, giving him alcohol and conspiring to hold the boy's family captive in 2003. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The family of the boy(from 1993), who was 9 or 10 at the time of the incident, filed a civil lawsuit against the entertainer 12 years ago. Without admitting guilt, Jackson agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement to end that case. Jackson attended the funeral of prominent lawyer Johnnie Cochran, who died March 29 of a brain tumor. Reports circulated that several members of the media overheard jurors talking about the case outside of court. The jurors were supposedly joking about a witness who testified this week, about allegedly being tickled by Michael Jackson. A court spokesperson called them unsubstantiated rumors. He says Judge Rodney Melville is aware of the reports and says there is no investigation. No matter who testifies next in Michael Jackson's alleged "prior acts" of sexual abuse mini-trial, the prosecution will have to deal with the fact that only one boy is showing up to say he was once molested in the past by the pop star. Chacon never picked up the phone and called the police after these alleged acts he claims to have witnessed. A little background information about Chacon is required here. He is a part of a group of five former employees who reportedly sued Jackson for wrongful termination. He was also one of the ones who were found to have stolen personal items from Jackson's Neverland ranch and sold them to tabloids. He lost the lawsuit against Jackson and lost a countersuit Jackson filed against him and the others. As a result, Chacon was ordered to pay Jackson $25,000 in damages with the jury finding that he acted with malice. With 10 minutes to go before the first break in the morning session, Mesereau knew that he had to act fast to counter former Neverland security guard Ralph Chacon's testimony, which included two instances of child molestation described in graphic detail. The shock of his vulgar description was just enough to get the attention of all in the room.Armed with Chacon's deposition from the 1994 "Neverland Five" case, in which former Jackson employees unsuccessfully sued the singer for wrongful termination and harassment, Mesereau didn't take long to make mincemeat of the witness. Suddenly Chacon's every answer was "I don't know" when Mesereau plied him for details of the famous lawsuit, the longest civil trial in Santa Maria history. Those ten minutes were perhaps the most crucial in Michael Jackson's life. Mesereau asked Chacon if he remembered telling Allen that he was going to make $2 million to $3 million dollars as a result of this situation. There was a definite tone that Mesereau was going to provide evidence, possibly through calling Allen, that Chacon was in this from the beginning for money. Mesereau also revealed that Chacon added things to his account of allegedly witnessing "molestation". Mesereau asked Chacon, "It seems to me you seem to remember more details of the alleged molestation every time you talk to the authorities." Chacon admitted under defense questioning that there were new things he told the police that he supposedly "recently remembered." "After a six-month trial, this is a good way to get even with him, isn't it?" Mesereau asked Chacon, drawing a strong objection from the prosecution. "Did you say you forgot to say things about Mr. Jackson molesting young men in 1993?" asked Mesereau. "Yes, sir," said the witness. "And now you remember them in 2005?" Mesereau said. "Vaguely, yes," Chacon said. In a sworn deposition given previously by Chacon, he said he thought Jackson should "compensate him for life". Mesereau asked Chacon if he had ever told anyone Jackson wasn't a child molester. Chacon denied it on the stand Further, Mesereau revealed that Chacon and other former Neverland employees met with their attorney with a tabloid reporter from "Star" magazine. It appears to be the defense's contention that these people, including Chacon, went to the tabloids to get negative publicity against Jackson in hopes of forcing Jackson to settle that $60M lawsuit, instead of taking them to court Neither one of these witnesses tried to stop what they claim they witnessed, didn't call the cops at the time they claim to have witnessed it, didn't quit their jobs, and only made these allegations after the 1993 lawsuit was filed. At first the prosecution's plan looked good. But then defense attorney Tom Mesereau came twirling onto the court, and the rest is history. The next witness, Adrianne McManus said t she personally saw Culkin, spend the night in Jackson's bedroom at different times. Culkin, now 24, has denied anything of a sexual nature happened between him and Jackson. Not only did McManus have to pay her share of $1 million in legal fees to Jackson, that the judge awarded, but she also had to pay Jackson $35,000 in damages for stealing and selling information and material to those tabloids. Mesereau confronted her repeatedly with statements from her deposition and each time she said she could not recall until the attorney showed them to her. "Do you know how many times you lied under oath in the ... deposition?" asked Mesereau. "The whole time," she said. "I believe I didn't tell the truth." Mesereau got her to admit she'd had a three-hour meeting the night with prosecutors on Wednesday night, just before her testimony Thursday morning. McManus's final half hour on the stand was almost painful. She also admitted to having lied in the Chandler v. Jackson civil suit a decade ago. Mesereau said: "You're saying you committed perjury in the Chandler deposition?" McManus: "The whole time [I lied]." Mesereau: "Knowing that it was a crime?" McManus: "I didn't think of it that way." By then, the jury had long forgotten about Chacon's pornographic musings. Jackson shook his head slowly and almost imperceptibly from side to side. His mother, Katherine, left the courtroom before Chacon testified, returning after he was done and Tito ,his brother left the courtroom in the middle of the testimony. The National Enquirer, desperate to get a scoop that Jackson has abused children, heard that the Newt kids once spent time with Jackson. The tabloid offered the Newts' father, Ronald Sr., a $200,000 to say anything whatsoever happened between his kids and Jackson. Ron Newt, Sr., to whom $200,000 would have seemed like the world on a silver platter, wrote "No good sucker" where his signature was supposed to go. The reason: Nothing ever happened between Michael Jackson and the Newt boys. Indeed, no kids, no matter how much money was dangled by the tabloids, ever showed up to trade stories of Jackson malfeasance for big lumps of cash since the first scandal broke in 1993. An Enquirer editor concedes now: "Maybe there aren't any other kids". And all he remembers about the man from The National Enquirer is that he wanted Bobby, then 18, to lie. "My dad said these dudes are offering this money to take Michael Jackson down. And the guy [Mitteager] said, 'Say he touched you. All you have to do is say it. But you might have to take the stand. You might have to go on 'Oprah' in front of all these people. You have to be prepared for this thing. Just say it. And we'll give you money,'" Newt said. The contract, written as a letter, says it's an agreement between the tabloid and the Newts for their exclusive story regarding "your relationship with and knowledge of Michael Jackson, and his sexuality, your knowledge of Michael Jackson's sexual contact and attempts at sexual contact with Robert Newt and others." He said, 'We take these people down. That's what we do.'" A former chef at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch testified Friday that he saw the pop star improperly touch child movie star Macaulay Culkin in the early 1990s. LeMarque's testimony came Friday morning after the defense lost a bid to try to impeach his credibility by introducing evidence that he operated an explicit adult Web site from 1997 until recently. "We can prove this witness tried to use tabloid stories about Mr. Jackson to get into this business," defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. said. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville ruled the evidence could not be admitted because it concerned events that happened years after the events about which LeMarque was testifying. Pressed by Mesereau on Friday on how much money she wanted from Jackson, McManus replied, "I wanted justice." She also said that if she had gotten an apology for the way she had been treated by Jackson's security staff, "that would have been enough." Asked if she had ever called Jackson to ask him for that apology, she said, "I didn't have a phone number to call Mr. Jackson." McManus admitted she had accepted money from tabloids to provide information about Jackson and his ex-wife, Lisa Marie Presley. While she was quoted in the article about "kinky sex secrets," McManus said she had no such information about Jackson and Presley, who were married in 1994 and divorced in 1996. Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. noted that she had in the past filed a claim against Jackson noting that she could be a "material witness" against him in a civil and criminal trial. Ralph Chacon 14 Q. You sued Mr. Jackson and you wanted $16 15 million, right? 16 A. Well, I don't know about the 16 million. 17 Q. You wanted millions, true? 18 A. No, sir. 19 Q. Really? 20 A. Well, I don't know, sir. Whatever our 21 attorney was -- he's the one who was speaking for 22 us. 23 Q. Okay. We'll get into that. 24 You sued Mr. Jackson claiming you were 25 wrongfully terminated, right? 26 A. That's correct, sir. 27 Q. He sued you claiming you had stolen property 28 from him, true? 1 A. That's correct, sir. 2 Q. The jury found you were not wrongfully 3 terminated by Mr. Jackson, correct? 4 A. But we were, sir. 5 Q. Answer my question, please. Did the Santa 6 Maria jury find you were not wrongfully terminated 7 by Mr. Jackson? 8 A. Yes, sir. 9 Q. And they also found you had stolen property 10 from Mr. Jackson, correct? 11 A. But I didn't, sir. 12 Q. Did the Santa Maria jury find you had stolen 13 property from Mr. Jackson? 14 A. Yes, sir. 15 Q. A judgment was entered against you, Mr. 16 Chacon, for $25,000, the value of what you had 17 stolen, correct? 18 A. For candy bars, sir? 19 Q. A judgment was entered against you for 20 $25,000, the value of what the Court found you had 21 stolen, correct? 22 A. Well, if a candy bar is worth that much, 23 yes, sir. 24 Q. That's not all you owe Mr. Jackson 25 currently, is it? 26 A. No, sir. I don't owe him. 27 Q. In fact, Judge Zel Canter of this court, 28 entered a judgment against you and your 1 co-defendants for $1,473,117.61, correct? 2 A. Yes, sir. 3 Q. He ordered you pay all of Mr. Jackson's 4 legal fees and costs, correct? 5 A. Yes, sir. 6 Q. Have you ever paid any of that judgment, Mr. 7 Chacon? 8 A. No, sir. I filed bankruptcy. 9 Q. Now, the jury found you not only stole from 10 Mr. Jackson, but you acted maliciously, correct? 11 A. No, sir. 12 Q. Did a judge find you had acted with malice? 13 A. No, sir. 14 Q. Is there a judgment against you for acting 15 with fraud against Mr. Jackson? 16 A. That I know of, no, sir. 17 Q. Would it refresh your recollection to look 18 at the judgment? Adrian McManus 27 Q. The prosecutor for the government mentioned 28 a case you were involved in where you were sued by 1 Rosalie Hill, correct? 2 A. Correct. 3 Q. You were sued by Rosalie Hill as the 4 guardian ad litem for two children, correct? 5 A. Correct. 6 Q. The children were Shane McManus and Megan 7 McManus, correct? 8 A. Correct. ... 19 Q. That was Judge Richard A. St. John, Judge of 20 the Santa Barbara Superior Court, true? ... 28 Q. And after you told Judge St. John your 1 position under oath, he found that you and your 2 husband willfully and maliciously defrauded these 3 children out of the money in the estate, true? 4 A. I believe so. 5 Q. Judge St. John found that that money was to 6 be held in trust for the benefit of those two 7 children, right? 8 A. Yes. 9 Q. He found that you and your husband 10 dissipated those funds, right? 11 A. I believe so. 12 Q. He found that you and your husband violated 13 that trust, right? 14 A. I believe so. 15 Q. He entered a judgment against you and your 16 husband for $30,000 -- excuse me, 30,584.89, 17 correct? 18 A. I believe so, but I believe it was -- I 19 thought it was like separate, like -- I thought it 20 was maybe 17 for me and 17 for my husband. Maybe -- 21 I don't know. Maybe that's right, what you have 22 there. Cross-examination of Chacon and McManus April 7 |
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Michael Jackson's mother said Sunday she did not leave the courtroom during his trial to avoid hearing graphic testimony - she just had to go the rest room and then was barred from returning to court. "I am only asking for fair and accurate reporting," Mrs. Jackson said in a written statement. "Accusing me of leaving due to graphic testimony when I simply went to the rest room is not fair, not accurate." Prosecutors in the child molestation trial called Bob Jones, Jackson's former publicist, to the stand to testify about an alleged incident on a flight from Paris to Los Angeles. They wanted Jones to testify that Jackson licked the boy's head to show a pattern of behavior. Jackson is alleged to have licked the head of his current accuser on a flight from Miami to Santa Barbara in February 2003. But when asked if he had seen Jackson lick the boy, Jones responded, "No, sir." Prosecutor Gordon Auchincloss then asked whether Jones had said during an interview with Auchincloss, Jones' attorney and a sheriff's investigator that he may have seen Jackson lick the boy's head. "I was very adamant in saying I was not sure," Jones said. "I don't recall anything about licking. ... I don't recall ever seeing any head licking." Auchincloss then read an excerpt from a book Jones is writing about his experiences with Jackson. "They were holding each other tightly, almost in a romantic sense," Auchincloss quoted from the book, which also said Jackson and the boy were cooing and kissing and that Jackson licked the boy's head. Auchincloss asked Jones whether the passage in the book was accurate. "Yes, with reservations," Jones said. After he was confronted with e-mails he sent to Brown that "the licking is going to be important," he conceded that it must have taken place. "I would not have made it up," he testified Monday. Prosecutors also called Brown to the stand. And under cross-examination by defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr., Brown said Jones' recollections about the incident seemed to change with his finances -- that he had a better memory of seeing the licking when he needed money and a fuzzier memory when he didn't. On cross-examination by Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr., Jones testified that his co-writer completes passages of the book and that he then checks them for accuracy. Jones said that he had not yet reviewed the section Auchincloss read in court and that it was not accurate. Mesereau also noted that Jones had not been sworn to tell the truth when working on the book. Bob Jones was fired by Mr. Jackson a year ago. Reportedly, Jones was very angry about the termination. But it got even worse for prosecutors. They called someone who worked at Neverland for all of 5 weeks, Dwayne Swingler, to talk about some prosecution-alleged conspiracy. He was suppose to identify who was at the ranch with Jackson at a specific time, including Dieter Weisner and Ron Konitzer. Only the witness couldn't identify Weisner. When shown a picture of Weisner, the witness said he'd never seen the man before in his life. No,this is not a joke. And if that wasn't bad enough, under cross-examination, he admitted he was working on a book and actually said he wanted to "cash in just like everybody else". Saying it's "very disconcerting to sit in court and be vilified," Michael Jackson's publicist and personal spokesperson adds that's far from the only thing disturbing the pop star about his ongoing child molestation trial. "Sometimes I've been sitting in court, as well as Michael, and we come out later and hear the summaries and we wonder whether or not we were sitting in the same courtroom." "That's the problem, because we have not only got to win this in court, but in the court of public opinion as well. " Bain says Jackson's back occasionally hurts from the air conditioning in the courtroom, but overall, his health has been improving. The mother of the '93 accuser said that at Jackson's urging, she signed papers giving custody of the boy to his father."[Jackson] kept begging me to sign it so there wouldn't be any lawsuits or anything," she said. "I didn't understand completely what I was signing." It was unclear from the testimony why Jackson might have believed changing custody would thwart a lawsuit. The mother testified Monday that her son first met Jackson in August 1992, when the performer came to a Los Angeles car rental agency after having car trouble. Her then-husband, the boy's stepfather, worked there, she said. She said she gave Jackson their phone number and told the entertainer to call "if you'd like to see [him] ... or speak to him." A month or two later, Jackson began calling the boy, in conversations that "got longer and longer," she said. She and her son and daughter began spending weekends at Jackson's Neverland Ranch starting in February 1993, and he began treating the family to trips to Las Vegas, Disneyland and Florida. On their third visit to Neverland, she said she refused her son's request to spend the night with Jackson in his bedroom. But she relented during a trip to Las Vegas in March 1993, after Jackson -- whom she described as "sobbing, crying, shaking and trembling" -- confronted her, she testified. After 30 to 40 minutes of pleading by Jackson, the mother said she relented, and the two then began sleeping in the same bed on nights when they were together. For more than 30 consecutive nights, she said Jackson, who was then 34, visited the family's home in Santa Monica to spend the night with her 13-year-old son, left in the morning after he went to school and then returned in the afternoon when he came home, often eating dinner with the family. There was only one bed in the boy's room, she said. In May 1993, Jackson took the family with him to the World Music Awards in Monaco, and gave her his credit card to go shopping. He also gave her other gifts . "[My son] was spending too much time with Michael Jackson, and I was upset," she said. "I wanted my son back. ... It was getting out of hand." After the boy received a reported multimillion-dollar settlement from Mr. Jackson, he did not cooperate in a law enforcement investigation, nor does he intend to now. No charges were ever filed against Mr. Jackson in the matter. She admitted that she never witnessed any molestation or improper acts between Mr. Jackson and her son.she admitted that she had not spoken to her son for 11 years. MR. MESEREAU: Didn't you tell the Los Angeles District Attorney that your ex-husband Evan, the father of Jordie, told you that the relationship with Michael was a wonderful means of Jordie not having to worry for the rest of his life? MOTHER OF 1993 ACCUSER: Yes. MR. MESEREAU: And to you, that meant Michael Jackson supporting you financially for the rest of your life, correct? MOTHER OF 1993 ACCUSER: No. Yesterday, the mother was asked by Tom Mesereau if she'd told Jackson they were $5 million in debt and whether she asked Jackson for a $4 million loan back in 1993. She denied it, of course. She was also asked if her attorney threatened to ruin Jackson's music deals with that 1993 lawsuit. She claimed she didn't recall. How convenient. The paper reports Jackson had already negotiated the largest endorsement deal at the time with Pepsi. His next album, HIStory which was released after the settlement, was also his fastest selling album around the world to date and made his label hundreds of millions of dollars. Arvizo, and an admission by the prosecution in their opening statement, have admitted to defrauding the Los Angeles County welfare system. In their opening statement, the prosecution said Arvizo would admit to breaking the law. But now, according to this new report, the mother has "changed her mind" . Reportedly, the prosecution filed to motion actually wanting to keep the defense from asking Arvizo questions about her welfare fraud. She has threatened to plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer any questions. The stepfather told jurors that the accuser, then 13, became mean, rude and distant after the time he spent with Jackson and that it took "several months" for his behavior to return to normal.Hard to believe that because his teachers said that he was a kid with problems-and that's before meeting Michael! The defense tried to counter the stepfather's testimony by pointing out to jurors that he spurned the offer of a house and free educations because he wanted an even larger share of what he thought would be a financial windfall from the rebuttal video. The stepfather, a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, admitted that he thought the offer was insufficient because he believed Jackson stood to earn $4 million to $5 million from selling his rebuttal -- and the family ought to share in the money. He also admitted asking reporters from a British tabloid for money for an interview with the family .But he said he refused it in the end. In fact, Jay Jackson and Janet Arvizo did sell a story to Gardner and Byrne to appear in the Daily Mail. The story was published on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2003. Gardner and Byrne finished a portion of the interview and were set to return the next day. But when Gardner and Byrne returned on Feb. 5, they were surprised to find the accuser's family completely gone from their apartment. Now it seems that the Miami trip was triggered by a call from Jay Jackson and the accuser's mother. "How else would Michael have known they were in 'danger' from the media?" The mother eventually agreed to participate in the rebuttal video, which was played earlier in the trial. In it, she and the accuser, along with his brother and sister, laud Jackson and deny anything improper happened. During the time prosecutors allege that the family was being held against its will, at Neverland and a Los Angeles hotel, the stepfather said he had several short phone conversations with the mother. She was "distressed" and "disturbed".However, the stepfather said the mother did not give him details. No word yet on just how the prosecution will explain why she was able to make so many phone calls to anyone , while being "held hostage"/"kidnapped". Nor is there an explanation of why she called him and didn't call the police, nor told him to call the police. Mesereau played a 20-minute tape in court made by private investigator Brad Miller of Janet Arvizo and her three children. On the tape, the family members wax poetic about Michael Jackson being their savior and father figure. At the time, they were living in Jay Jackson's home, and he considered himself their surrogate dad. No mention is made by any of the family members of Jay Jackson - as if he didn't exist. While the tape played, Jay Jackson rocked back and forth in the witness chair, drank a pitcher of water and wiped sweat from his brow. It was a stroke of brilliance on the part of Mesereau to subject the witness to this evident humiliation. |
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The mother of Michael Jackson's accuser took the stand outside the jury's presence Wednesday and immediately invoked her Fifth Amendment right to not testify about welfare payments she has received. Defense attorneys have raised questions about the woman's credibility, accusing her of bilking celebrities and committing welfare fraud. District Attorney Thomas Sneddon said in opening statements that the woman would admit she took welfare payments to which she was not entitled. Judge Rodney S. Melville told jurors before the mother took the stand that the woman would testify.Defense attorneys contend the woman should not be allowed to take the stand at all if she refuses to testify about the welfare payments.
"You can't allow a witness to pick and choose what he or she is going to be subject to on cross-examination," defense attorney Robert Sanger said, addressing the court. In the end, Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville ruled the woman could do just that. He designated her welfare status an off-limit topic. But "It's a major set-back for the prosecution," said legal analyst Jim Moret. She then offered an account, in conflict with testimony of other witnesses, in which she described seeing Mr. Jackson lick her son's head during a February 2003 flight from Miami to California on a private jet. In an unusual move, Mr. Jackson's lawyers raised few objections during the woman's emotional testimony. On the stand Thursday, the accuser's mother denied that she had targeted Jackson in hopes of reaping a financial windfall. The mother told jurors Thursday that she and her children were held at Jackson's Neverland ranch as virtual prisoners by the pop star's associates and security guards. Prosecutor Ron Zonen was left to rein in his own witness, who often responded in a chatty and animated tone. "You'll drive the court reporter nuts," Zonen warned her after she continually cut him off before finishing his questions. On Day 33 Michael Jackson's lawyer savaged the credibility of his accuser's mother, making her admit she committed perjury, lying under oath at least twice and suggesting she wanted to cash in on the star's wealth. Exchanges between the mother of Michael Jackson's accuser and the pop star's lead defense attorney were so combative Friday that the judge threatened to end court for the day after listening to hours of sniping between the witness and lawyer. Asked which of Jackson's associates created a script the woman says was used to prepare a video in which the family heaped praise on Jackson, she told Mesereau that he would have to ask them. "Or Michael. He could come up here," she said. She said she did not want to make the video, and claimed everything in it -- even the laughter -- was scripted: ""I was acting," the woman said. "I mean you are not going to call Halle Berry and say, 'Are you [really] Catwoman?' I am a poor actress." But Mr. Mesereau shot back: "You are a good actress." The judge chastised Mr. Mesereau for the remark and told the woman to refrain from delivering long answers unrelated to attorneys' questions, telling her, "It's as much your fault." When Mr. Mesereau asked how it took to memorize her lines or how long the script was, she could not answer. In an outtake, she instructs the video director to "make it like in Bashir," i.e. showing her clasping hands with her son: a very specific image. But Arvizo, her new husband and her kids have insisted in all their testimony thus far that she has never seen the documentary. "How many lies do you think you told in the JCPenney case?" Mr. Mesereau asked. In evasive responses, she reluctantly conceded she lied about anything to do with her then husband . Mr. Mesereau suggested the defiant witness's stories of kidnapping were a tissue of lies and that she was in fact living in the lap of luxury as Mr. Jackson's guest at Neverland. "How many times, in your mind, did you escape from that dungeon, Neverland?" Mr. Mesereau persisted, getting the woman to admit that she had left and returned three times during her alleged captivity. Mr. Mesereau got the woman's hackles up with a question about whether it was Mr. Jackson bodyguard Chris Carter who once drove her from Neverland to a nearby salon for a body wax. "Incorrect," the mother replied. "Who took you for a body wax?" Mr. Mesereau asked. "No one ever," she said. "Well, you went for a body wax when you were at Neverland, did you not?" Mr. Mesereau asked. "Inaccurate," the woman insisted. And so the two went on, like Abbott and Costello, without the laughs, until it was established that the mother was not going to agree to Mr. Mesereau's statement until he used the correct terminology. "I had a leg wax done... He keeps saying 'body wax,' " the woman said, in an apparent appeal to the jury. "There is no body wax." The mother frequently referred to Mr. Mesereau as "he," declining to address the counsel directly. She insisted it was the latter, and also claimed she'd paid for it. That was a mistake. Mesereau, of course, had the receipt for $140, which showed multiple beauty treatments including leg, bikini and lip waxing, and a manicure. "Do you want to see the receipt?" Mesereau offered. "Who paid for it?" Mesereau demanded. Arvizo refused to answer several times, finally claiming: "I don't know." The hits kept coming. At one point, the woman very inappropriately even imitated Mr. Jackson's high-pitched voice. Amid the tumult, Mr. Jackson was the model defendant. A central motif runs through Michael Jackson's child molestation trial - and it isn't sex. "Money in this case is huge. It's money, money, and more money." |
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Michael Jackson's defense attorney kept up his attack Monday on the mother of the pop star's teenage accuser, trying to use her own statements to raise questions about her credibility. Thomas Mesereau Jr. also pressed her about the family's efforts to raise money after her son was diagnosed with cancer. But the mother, who was feisty during two days of tough cross-examination, told jurors that Jackson has "managed to fool the world" and that he "didn't really care about children." "He just cared about what he was doing with the children," she said. "What he puts out in the world is not who he really is." Her remarks were stricken from the record after defense attorneys objected. She also said she told investigators from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department that her family "might disappear in a hot air balloon." She insisted she did not ask for money and was not aware of two fund-raisers planned for her son at the Laugh Factory, a California comedy club. But she did admit she cashed two $10,000 checks given to the family by comedienne Louise Palanker, and that she withdrew money from a bank account set up for donations for her son. She also said her husband, whom she later divorced, took some of the money and "went to Las Vegas." She admitted dancing with Jackson but said they were in a group with her children and other guests. Mesereau also questioned the mother about why police were contacted about the alleged molestation only after she had talked to attorney Larry Feldman. "You didn't call 911?" Mesereau asked. "That's correct. But I have now," she said. In another odd moment, Mesereau asked the Los Angeles resident if it was true she had claimed to someone that she was "living in a stable with hay and horses" in the California town of Bakersfield, a claim she denied. Mesereau persisted in exploring possible tales of fantasy by asking if she had ever said she was so poor that her children picked coins out of public fountains to help support the family. Again, she denied the claim. This are stories told by some of the family's friends. Following cross-examination, prosecutor Ron Zonen asked the mother about injuries she and her children sustained in an altercation with JCPenney security guards in 2000. Prosecutors expect to conclude their case against pop star Michael Jackson by the end of next week, Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon said Tuesday. Mesereau also tried to bolster the defense's contention that the mother used her son's bout with cancer to solicit money for her personal benefit, asking her if she had paid for plastic surgery out of funds raised for the boy. "I used a credit card [for the surgery] ... which is still outstanding," she said. On the stand Monday, the mother had said she did not know how the money from Palanker had been used. But Tuesday, after an overnight conversation with prosecutor Ron Zonen, she said she remembered the money was used to construct a special sterile room at her parents' home, where her son stayed while recovering from chemotherapy. She said she had no idea why money was being put in the account . "You had no idea why anyone put money in it. You just withdrew it?" asked Mesereau. "I did what (my husband) told me," the woman said. The woman also gave a confused account of how she happened to be photographed with bruises all over her body in connection with the alleged beating by the store security guards. She acknowledged that a mug shot taken of her on the day of the incident showed no bruises on her face. But other pictures showed her face scraped and bruised and her body blotched with black and blue marks. She at first acknowledged that she said in her deposition in that case that bruises do not immediately show up and over time they get "blacker and blacker." "Did your attorney have these photographs taken?" asked Mesereau. "Yes," said the woman. "But you didn't go to a lawyer 'til a year later," he said. "Those pictures were taken with the criminal case," she said. "I had these photos already." "When did he take you there?" asked Mesereau. "Immediately," said the woman. "But didn't you testify that you didn't have those bruises immediately?" asked the lawyer. The woman gave a convoluted response: "When the defense attorney told us was the time." The woman acknowledged waiting a year before taking her complaints to a lawyer. The prosecution is having problems with witness availability for Friday, April 22 2005. So there won't be any court on that day. It got to a point where during day 2 of the cross-examination, even the prosecution was objecting to some of the answers Janet Arvizo was being allowed to give . This comes after her pleading the 5th Amendment not to incriminate herself about welfare fraud and perjur.It is rather ridiculous that she would scam the welfare system after receiving thousands of dollars anyway. That smacks of pure greed. The accuser's grandmother also testified today as to receiving phone calls from what she claims was Jackson's people. . The mother doesn't speak English . A counselor for the accuser named Michael Davy, testified that the accuser was disrespectful and a disciplinary problem both before and after he went to and came from Jackson's Neverland Ranch. Jackson waved at fans who greeted him Tuesday outside the Santa Maria courthouse. His sporadic problems with promptness returned when he and his mother, Katherine, returned late from an afternoon court break, after the jury had already been seated. Jackson was let into the courtroom, but his mother was forced to wait outside until the next break |
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Former child movie star Macaulay Culkin plans to testify on behalf of Michael Jackson in the singer's trial on child molestation charges. In trial testimony Wednesday, a former guard at the ranch said the security staff was ordered not to allow the singer's teenage accuser to leave the ranch in early 2003. The notice was posted on a guardroom message board around the time that prosecutors allege Jackson's associates held the teenager and his family against their will. Under defense questioning, however, Barron said it was policy at Neverland not to allow children to leave the ranch if they were visiting without their parents, and notations often were made in the guest log to that effect. Asked if the accuser's parents were at Neverland at the time, he said, "I don't think so." Barron also said he never saw criminal behavior at Neverland and that as a sworn police officer would have taken action if he had. He said the rest of the staff at the ranch was aware that he was a police officer. Barron described Jackson as a hands-on manager, saying the staff would be "on pins and needles" when he was at the ranch and there was "much more work to be done." "He's very much like a perfectionist," Barron said. Barron also testified that the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department had asked him to work undercover as a confidential informant at Neverland after investigators raided the ranch in November 2003. He refused and quit his moonlighting job after a discussion with the chief of his department, Barron said. Barron said he seldom saw Jackson's accuser -- now 15 -- when the boy stayed at the ranch, but when he did, he never saw any indication the boy did not want to be there. Barron also said on a visit in June 2002, the accuser crashed a golf cart into a fountain and was warned that if he didn't slow down, the golf cart would be taken away. "Destructive," Barron said. "Whenever they were there we would have broken golf carts. They egged my security chief's car, and I mean a lot of eggs." There was also more testimony about books found at Neverland. The prosecution is claiming they have a sexual nature; something shown to be ridiculous because 1. none of the material discussed today had the accuser or his brother's fingerprints on them and 2. they are art books and material. What has completely confused a number of observers is the fact that the prosecution label an art book by Ann Geddes as "pictures of naked children" and applying that negative connotation to it. Michael Jackson's father has dismissed speculation that his family is distancing themselves from the superstar, who is on trial for child abuse. "This information is both false and mean-spirited," Joe Jackson said in a statement. "Joe Jackson has been resting at home recovering from a recent bout of the flu, and is being very careful not to get his son Michael Jackson sick," a publicist said. The security logs indicate that the accuser's mother and her children were guests at Neverland for several days beginning Feb. 6, 2003, dates when she said the family was held captive by Mr. Jackson and his associates in a Miami hotel room. Guadalupe police Officer Brian Barron said the logs also indicated that the mother and her children were at the ranch in late February. She had said during her 4 1/2 days on the witness stand that by then she had escaped Neverland and was at her boyfriend's Los Angeles apartment. She had testified that she was holed up in a guest unit away from her children during her entire stay at Neverland in spring 2003. The security logs, however, indicate she spent three nights in sleeping quarters in a ranch dance studio with the children. The mother testified that she had convinced Mr. Salas to help her escape and return her to Los Angeles. "There was no secret spiriting away," Mr. Sanger said. "They just checked out right at the gate, right?" Officer Barron answered that the driver had followed normal procedures and that the car had left the ranch without incident. Prosecutors contend Mr. Jackson instilled fear in his employees and that was why no one reported suspicions about his activities with adolescent boys. However, when Mr. Sanger asked, "When you say 'pins and needles,' is this to suggest Mr. Jackson was a harsh or mean boss?" "No," the officer answered. "You meant you need to be on your best behavior, right?" Mr. Sanger asked. "Yes," Officer Barron said. "People worked harder when Mr. Jackson was there, correct?" Mr. Sanger asked. "They worked more, for sure," the officer responded. The judge decided prosecutors may not use a domestic violence expert to lend credibility to the accuser's mother. But he decided the defense may have a witness testify about the prior sexual acts of the accuser in an attempt to impeach him.The judge did approve co-defense counsel Susan Yu's request to allow a young witness, a relative of Mr. Jackson's, to testify that he observed the accuser and his brother while they were masturbating in a guest unit at the ranch. Senior Deputy District Attorney Gordon Auchincloss argued the mother behaved like a battered woman around Mr. Jackson by not calling police and returning to Neverland Valley Ranch. He tried to make the domestic violence link by showing the woman considered Mr. Jackson family and her children saw him as a father figure. But Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville interrupted: "I'm having trouble keeping up with you here. . . . You're playing Mr. Jackson in the position of a husband. You are making a big jump there." In other rulings, the judge decided to allow the prosecution to bring in another former Neverland employee to testify about Mr. Jackson's behavior with adolescent boys. However, the judge excluded altogether the testimony of Cynthia Montgomery rather than let her take the Fifth Amendment over the surreptitious taping of Mr. Jackson on a private jet when he flew to Santa Barbara to surrender on Nov. 20, 2003 -- a matter the FBI is investigating. |
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The defense objected on grounds that Rowe's testimony was part of a prosecution "desperation" tactic at the end of its case and had no relevance to the charges against Jackson. Jackson defense attorney Robert Sanger said the videos were not scripted and testimony last week from the mother of Jackson's' accuser that her remarks were not spontaneous was "preposterous." Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville said, "I will admit the testimony and will look to ways to restrict that testimony." In other developments, District Attorney Tom Sneddon unexpectedly announced without explanation that planned witness Christopher Carter, a former Jackson security guard, will not be testifying. The jury, which was out of the courtroom most of the morning, returned to hear testimony by former Jackson employee, Kassim Abdool. Abdool said he saw Mr. Jackson and the boy, who later received a multimillion-dollar settlement, leave a Jacuzzi with Mr. Jackson. Abdool was one of a group of former employees who lost a wrongful termination suit against Mr. Jackson in 1997 and were ordered to pay damages to the entertainer. Under defense questioning, Abdool said he participated in an interview for a tabloid for which they received $15,000 and that he spent the money to fund the lawsuit. Cynthia Montgomery is currently on the stand under direct questioning. Montgomery is currently under federal investigation in relation to a Michael Jackson flight in Nov 2003 being bugged with audio and video recording equipment. Mesereau also established on cross-examination that there were no one-way tickets to Brazil. Mesereau also made the point that Montgomery never spoke to Jackson himself about booking these tickets to Brazil. First, under cross-examination Jackson's former videographer Hamid Moslehi testified that he never saw a script. Wednesday afternoon, Rowe stunned the courtroom when she testified that her interview was neither rehearsed nor scripted, although she also said some of her positive comments about Jackson were untrue."As Mr. Jackson knows, no one can tell me what to say." She said Schaffel, who organized the taping, did periodically stop the interview to ask both her and the interviewer to "rephrase" their remarks in order to "clarify" them. Rowe said she complied with Schaffel's requests "only if it didn't change the meaning of what I had to say." Rowe testified Wednesday that Jackson had asked for her help in a telephone conversation. She said he told her she would get to see him and their children after the firestorm from the documentary died down.But despite her repeated queries to Schaffel over the next several months, she said, she never saw the children. She did not give any details of her private life with Jackson and made it clear that she did not want to discuss it. "My personal life was my personal life and no one's business." Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen asked her what she expected after she gave the interview. Teary, she said, "To be reunited with the children and be reacquainted with their dad." Asked why she wanted to see Jackson again, she said, "He's my friend." Rowe appeared nervous at first as she told jurors "we've been friends and we were married." "Are you the mother of his two elder children?" asked Zonen. "Yes," she said, naming them. Michael Jackson's ex-wife told a jury Thursday that she believed the pop star was being manipulated by three business associates she called "opportunistic vultures," who were trying to profit from his fame and fortune. Debbie Rowe provided testimony favorable to the pop star, who is on trial on child-molestation charges. After Rowe's comments during cross-examination proved helpful to the defense, Mesereau withdrew an earlier motion to have all of her testimony stricken. On Thursday, Rowe said she did the rebuttal interview to "protect the children and keep the media away" and because "I would get to see my children and possibly renew my relationship" with Jackson. Mesereau asked her to describe Jackson in her own words as she had described him in the video. She caught her breath and said: "Generous to a fault, good father, great with kids, puts other people ahead of him. Brilliant businessman." She became tearful when she described her feelings about Jackson. "There's different Michaels. There's like my Michael and the Michael that everyone else sees," she said. Jackson dabbed at his eyes as she spoke. "That would be Michael the entertainer?" Mesereau asked. "Michael the entertainer, yeah," Rowe said. Rowe looked across the courtroom several times at Jackson and once tried to engage him in conversation. Prosecutors are scrambling today to put as much distance between Debbie Rowe's testimony and the end of their "case" as possible. The prosecution has also introduced 2 art books seized from Neverland in 1993....yeah, we're back to 1993...again. One of the books is called "The Boy" and consists of photographs taken on the set of the movie Lord of the Flies. Another is called "Boys will be Boys" published in the 1960s..yeah, the 1960s. None of this is child pornography, to be clear. But the prosecution wants the jury to believe otherwise. According to Savannah Guthrie, the "Boys will be boys" book is inscribed by Michael Jackson saying: "Look at the true spirit of joy on these boys' faces. This is the life I never had. This is the life I want for my children." Is that supposed to be evidence of pedophilia?? If anything, that inscription alone knocks out any argument that prosecutors want to make. What's more, neither one of these books were shown to any kid. Melville said the books would be considered sexually explicit under California law. However, the police detective who found them testified that Jackson could legally possess the books. The second book, titled "Boys Will Be Boys," has an affectionate inscription indicating it was given to Jackson by a fan identified as "RHonDA." The books were found in a locked file cabinet in a closet in Jackson's bedroom during a search in 1993, Los Angeles Police Detective Rosibel Ferrufino-Smith testified. But prosecutor Ron Zonen said the material "adequately corroborates" testimony about the 1993 allegations, which Melville earlier allowed into the trial. Zonen described the books as "pictorial essays of adolescent boys." What the public has known since the 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey is that Jackson has a library of books and collections of material in his home. Jackson has thousands of books and other gifts fans, authors of certain books, and celebrity pals have sent him. |
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A bank manager testified that in April 2003, Marc Schaffel, who has been identified as an unindicted co-conspirator, cashed checks for $1 million and $500,000 on an account for which he and Mr. Jackson were the only signatories. Prosecutor Mag Nicola spent hours showing jurors charts of calls, primarily between the phones of three men named as unindicted co-conspirators, the mother of the boy who was allegedly molested, and an assortment of Mr. Jackson employees and lawyers. But the defense used the same records to show the accuser's family frequently called Jackson associates themselves and made numerous late-night phone calls to the homes of ranch employees at least a week after the family left Neverland. Co-defense counsel Robert Sanger pointed out that prosecutors failed to link his client to the flurry of calls that occurred from Feb. 4 to March 12, 2003, the day the accuser's family left the entertainer's Los Olivos estate. "In all of the phone records you analyzed, were you able to determine whether or not Michael Jackson ever made a single call?" Mr. Sanger asked Sgt. Craig Bonner, who prepared summary reports of the phone records. "No," Sgt. Bonner answered. With prosecutors indicating that they intend to rest their case on Tuesday (but they didn't) , court observers questioned why they would choose this moment to spend hours taking weary jurors through complex flow charts of telephone conversations. Some members of the jury appeared to find the day tough going, and at one point one of the alternate jurors noticeably dozed off. The singer's roughly $130 million in assets, as valued at the time of purchase, were swamped by $415 million in liabilities, resulting in "an ongoing cash crisis," an accountant said. He told of a warning to Mr. Jackson that if his overspending continued he might be forced to sell off his two greatest assets, the catalogue of his own songs and the Sony-ATV catalogue which contains rights to the works of numerous other artists including the Beatles. Mr. Mesereau clashed with the accountant, suggesting in several questions he underestimated the value of Mr. Jackson. He said the balance sheet was prepared on a tax basis and assets listed might actually have higher values. Defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau said the catalogue was worth $1 billion in 2003 and there have been estimates it's now worth between $4 billion and $5 billion. "Wouldn't it be relevant if you knew Mr. Jackson could accept one opportunity and solve (his liquidity problem) in a day," Mr. Mesereau asked. The accountant testified he was aware Mr. Jackson negotiated with the Fox network to get $7 million for the rebuttal video. "Let's say he has the opportunity to make a documentary that will generate $7 million," Mr. Mesereau said. "That $7 million is not going to make much of a difference" in Mr. Jackson's liabilities. "No, it's not," the witness agreed. "And it wouldn't be worth committing a crime, would it?" asked Mr. Mesereau. The question was ruled argumentative and there was no answer. Prosecutors tried to clean up Debbie Rowe's testimony by calling police Sgt. Steve Robel to the stand to talk about what Rowe told him in a March 2004 interview. "She referred to Michael as a sociopath and his children as possessions," Robel said. The defense wanted the jury to hear the entire tape of her interview with police, but the judge said they couldn't play it during the prosecution's presentation of their "case". The defense contends that Rowe made those derogatory statements against Jackson because she was angry regarding the custody issue. -- Associates of Michael Jackson made up stories about killers following the family of Jackson's accuser and coached his ex-wife during a rebuttal to a controversial February 2003 documentary, a witness in Jackson's child molestation trial testified Wednesday. Provencio was a longtime friend of Marc Schaffel, who was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in Jackson's case. He said members of Jackson's entourage were concerned that the boy's family would blackmail the entertainer and felt they needed to be involved with the videotaped rebuttal. During cross-examination, however, Jackson lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr. questioned the accuracy of Provencio's notes, which he kept in a journal. He noted that Provencio's description of his conversation about "killers" was on a page dated February 1, 2003 -- well before he testified the conversation took place. Provencio testified that Jackson did not have his own mobile phone, and said his entourage would call a bodyguard or someone close to him when they needed to talk. "You can't get hold of him directly," he said. However, Provencio's testimony is sketchy and vague at best. Further, these phone calls between some of these associates appear to be related to P.R. -- like the production of that Fox rebuttal documentary -- and not criminal conduct. With the defense case set to begin tomorrow, one wonders how these same people from the media will cover what the defense witnesses reveal in court. |
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Moments after Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville denied a motion to acquit Jackson on all charges, Robson was called as the first witness for the defense. The 22-year-old Tarzana resident testified he shared a bed with Jackson more than 20 times as a child. Robson said his time in Jackson's bedroom was spent watching movies and playing video games. He denied anything sexual occurred. "Did Michael Jackson ever molest you?" defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. asked the first witness, now 22. "Absolutely not," the witness replied. "Did he ever touch you in a sexual way?" Mesereau asked. "Never, no," he said. A second witness, now 23, also told jurors that Jackson did nothing improper during his sleepovers at Neverland -- and if he had, "I wouldn't be here right now." When asked, Barnes said he was mad that prosecutors had mentioned allegations he was molested. "I'm very mad about that," Barnes said. "They're pulling my name through the dirt, and I'm really, really not happy about it." "Why don't you still sleep with Michael Jackson?" Zonen asked. "He's got kids now," Barnes replied. Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen showed the man a series of very explicit books taken from Neverland during the Jackson probe ,trying to confuse the witness. Zonen asked Robson if he could have been molested while he slept. "I would think something like that would wake me up," Robson said. He said Jackson never showered with him, as a former Neverland maid testified last week, and that the entertainer always wore swim trunks when they were together in his hot tub. Both defense witnesses said they still consider Jackson a friend and that they are staying at Neverland during the trial. Joy Robson, the third defense witness and mother of Wade Robson, is on the stand right now. During Friday's testimony, the first woman was asked to describe Neverland, Jackson's sprawling ranch. "I would have once said the happiest place on Earth," she said. On family visits there, they watched movies and played in a water fort, she said. The woman testified that she particularly enjoyed playing with the chimpanzees. Robson testified that she once spent a day "sitting on Jackson's bed watching cartoons and eating popcorn with her son and Jackson" . Probably one of the most interesting things to come out of her testimony thus far is that she says her daughter, too, slept in Jackson's bedroom with her brother, Wade. Again, Joy Robson says she was in Jackson's bedroom sometimes when Wade was there with Jackson. She says she wasn't concerned at all. "Unless you know [Jackson], it's hard to understand," one woman said. "He's not the boy next door. ... He has a very pure love for children." "I've known Michael for a long time. I've spent many hours talking to him about everything. I feel like he's a member of my family. I trust him. I trust him with my children," she said under questioning by Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. Joy Robson said she had been at Neverland with the '93 boy and his mother but spoke to them only a few times. On cross-examination she said, "My impression of (the mother) is she wanted to be mistress of Neverland. She would order the staff around like she owned it. My impression of (her) is she was a gold-digger."Mesereau asked, "Did you feel she was trying to use Michael Jackson?" "Yes," she said. Sneddon, taking up questioning again, asked whether Robson was jealous of the woman "because she replaced you." "Absolutely not," said the witness. "... I had no wish to be (her)." "I asked if you were jealous of her position," Sneddon said acerbically. "What position would that be?" asked the mother. "Being close to Michael Jackson," said Sneddon. "I don't know that she was close to Michael Jackson," the witness answered. Also praising Jackson was Marie Elizabeth Barnes."I trusted him implicitly," she said of Jackson. "He's a very nice person. You just know when you can trust someone." The second woman, asked if she allowed her son to sleep in Jackson's bed, responded, "Why not?" "There is a certain trust we developed immediately," she said. "Nothing ever crossed my mind there would be a problem there."
The mother also says she didn't want law enforcement in 1993 to speak to her son alone basically because she didn't trust them. She testified that she thought they would try to manipulate her son. Joy Robson was followed to the stand by her daughter, Chantal Robson, a 26-year-old dancer who told of sleeping in Jackson's room with her brother four times as a child. "Did you ever see Michael Jackson molest your brother Wade?" asked Mesereau. "No," she said with a slight laugh. Deputy District Attorney Gordon Auchincloss asked whether she thought it appropriate for a 10-year-old girl to sleep in a bed with a man who was more than 30 years old. "I think it's appropriate for a 10-year-old girl to sleep in a bed with a friend," she said, adding under further questioning that it would be OK if the girl "and the parents" approved. The sister of one of the boys testified she considered Jackson a "family friend."
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Neverland Valley Ranch employees said Monday that Michael Jackson's accuser and his brother were frequently out of control while visiting the entertainer's sprawling Los Olivos estate. A former security supervisor at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch testified Monday she never saw the pop star exhibit any illegal or improper behavior toward young boys. Violet Silva, also admitted she could not get into Jackson's bedroom suite unless it had been unlocked from the inside. Silva still works at Neverland as a safety coordinator but no longer oversees security, a position she held in February and March 2003. Monday marked the beginning of the first full week of the defense case in which Jackson's attorneys will seek to undercut the testimony of prosecution witnesses such as the accuser's mother and Adrian McManus, a former maid who said she saw the singer fondling several boys, including movie star Macaulay Culkin. Jackson's lawyers plan to call Culkin to the stand Wednesday Culkin, now 24, was a frequent guest at Neverland in the early 1990s. He has denied anything untoward happened between him and Jackson and agreed to testify for the defense. Silva said family members could have gotten an outside telephone line in any of the guest cottages to dial 911 for help. She said family members left the ranch several times during that period and when they wanted to go, guards would "just open the gate and let them leave." Silva testified that during the weeks when the molestation allegedly occurred, the accuser and his younger brother were "pretty destructive" She said she rarely saw the boys' mother -- and that it was their sister who took care of them and tried to correct them when they misbehaved. Housekeeper's testimony Earlier in the day, a former housekeeping supervisor at Neverland testified the accuser's mother asked for a job during her family's first visit there. The mother even offered to sleep in her car to be available for work because the family was "having money problems," Gayle Goforth said. Goforth said she tried to dissuade the mother by pointing out the more than 100-mile drive to the ranch from her home in Los Angeles. She said the mother offered to move to the Santa Ynez Valley, where Neverland is situated. Told that rents in the valley were high, the accuser's mother said she was "prepared to sleep in her car" to take the job at Neverland, Goforth said. A former maid who worked with McManus testified that during a visit to McManus' home, she saw items on display that had been taken from Neverland, including hats, pajamas, watches and T-shirts. Violet Silva, an employee at Jackson's ranch near Los Olivos since 1991, testified that a vehicle gate on the property can be opened by something as light as a golf cart and that one can easily exit the property on foot. Also this morning, Francine Contreras, an employee from 1991 to 1993, said she saw items that belong to Jackson at the home of housekeeper Adrian McManus. McManus said she had them at her home for ironing, which Contreras said didn't explain why she had a hat. "You can't iron a hat," the woman said. The property manager at Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch testified Tuesday that he was never ordered to hold captive the family of the boy who is now accusing the pop star of child molestation. Michael Jackson's property manager at his Neverland estate testified Tuesday he never instructed anyone to hold Jackson's accuser and the boy's family against their will, and he suggested no such captivity ever happened. Ranch manager Joe Marcus, the defense's 11th witness, told jurors the boy and his brother were "destructive. . . . They wrote some graffiti. He also testified that whenever he saw the mother, "she seemed to be enjoying herself," contradicting her allegation that she was being held captive. Marcus said the reason for the order was that the boys often drove vehicles around the property, raising safety concerns. He said he was determined to prevent them from taking the vehicles out onto the open road. "Did you ever receive any instructions from anyone to hold the (family) against their will?" Jackson attorney Robert Sanger asked. "No," said Marcus. "Did (the mother) seem to you to want to leave the ranch and she was not allowed to do so?" Sanger asked. "No," said Marcus. "Did she ever complain to you about anything?" Sanger asked. "Never," said Marcus. When they went on a shopping trip in nearby Solvang, Marcus said, he stayed at the car while they wandered around the popular Danish-style tourist town shopping for an hour. And while the mother testified that she was kept from learning the time at Neverland, Marcus testified there are at least six in view outside and more in various buildings. He and other ranch employees said they sympathized with the accuser and his family when they first arrived, as the boy was battling cancer. But when the family returned a year later, the employees said, the boys were rambunctious and destructive and got into trouble, crashing golf carts and trying to drive ranch vehicles. Marcus, an 18-year employee, said he never saw Jackson do anything inappropriate to children and never saw anything that would have caused him to report an illegal act to authorities. Marcus came under heated cross-examination by Deputy District Attorney Gordon Auchincloss, who suggested that the witness was tailoring his testimony to help Jackson. "Why do you keep looking at Mr. Jackson?" Auchincloss asked at one point. The witness appeared startled and didn't answer, and a defense objection was sustained. "Do you consider yourself a loyal employee of Mr. Jackson?" the prosecutor asked. "Yes," said Marcus. "Mr. Jackson is the only person that can tell you to handle policies and practices at Neverland?" the prosecutor asked. "True," said Marcus. The witness also said he never saw Jackson in possession of adult magazines or books. His spokeswoman, Raymone K. Bain, said he was in pain from a persistent back problem. Asked if he would testify, she said, "He would not be opposed to testifying if his attorney says he should Bain also said Jackson does not plan to sell his share of the valuable Sony-ATV catalogue of popular songs including those of the Beatles. Actor Macaulay Culkin took the stand Wednesday to defend his friend, saying Michael Jackson "never" sexually molested him or touched him in an improper or offensive way when he was a boy. The poised 25 year old testified that he was never molested by Jackson, directly shooting down previous testimony from prosecution Culkin testified that not only did Jackson not molest him, but also that he has no reason to believe Jackson had ever molested him at any time. The jury has now heard from 3 of the prosecution-alleged "victims", who have testified under oath and before the world, that they were never molested or touched inappropriately by Jackson. He also testified that he has never seen Jackson act inappropriately with any other child either, Culkin also testified that the prosecution never contacted him to ask him whether or not the claims being made by their 1108 witnesses were true. It has been a rather pathetic cross-examination with prosecutor Zonen trying to convince Culkin he was molested in his sleep, with zero evidence to back up that theory. This is the same thing he tried to do with Robson and Barnes. In a follow-up, Zonen asked if Culkin had ever slept with any other 35-year-old men. "Not that I remember," the actor testified. "But I wasn't friends with any other 35-year-old men who understood me." Culkin also testified that these sleepovers weren't planned and that "he and others would just fall asleep when they were tired" where ever they were a number of times Ron Zonen had to be scolded by the judge for cutting off Culkin's answers and not letting him finish. Culkin acknowledged sleeping in Jackson's bed a dozen or more times between the ages of 9 and 14, but insisted nothing of a sexual nature happened between the two Culkin said. "I'd just flop down." He testified his parents trusted Jackson, were aware that he and Jackson sometimes shared a bed and that Culkin's father would even come into the pop star's bedroom to wake up his son. When he slept with Jackson, Culkin said, he wore jeans, socks and a T-shirt. He said he first learned of the testimony when a friend called to tell him, "You better check out CNN. They're saying something about you." "I couldn't believe it," he said. He told jurors that the two of them bonded because they were part of a "unique group" of people forced to deal with the complications of fame at an early age. "We had a really close relationship," Culkin said. "We had this understanding of one another." Culkin appeared relaxed and answered questions directly during his testimony, which lasted less than 90 minutes. Under questioning by Mesereau, Culkin also denied that Jackson would try to manipulate him with gifts so that the pop star could later touch Culkin. "He never pressured me to do anything at all. He was just my friend. He never pressured me to go to sleep at a particular time or to eat my vegetables." Asked if he thought it was childlike to have such material, Culkin said, "When I was 12 or 13 years old I had a couple of Playboys under my bed." When Zonen described the content of the magazines and asked if they were childlike, Culkin said, "I don't think there's anything wrong with having those things." The judge in the Michael Jackson "case" has allowed the defense to play the outtakes from the Martin Bashir "documentary". It is quite clear now that much of what appeared on the broadcast version of the "documentary" was completely taken out of context and presented in a salacious and derogatory manner. This comes after absolutely and unequivocally devastating testimony from Mac Culkin. Michael Jackson's jury listened to him Wednesday as he gave a soul-searching account of his troubled childhood. "I'm not a nut," Jackson said in a videotaped interview. "I'm very smart. You can't come this far and be a nut." The tape was made by Jackson's videographer as journalist Martin Bashir was making his documentary, "Living With Michael Jackson It provided a showcase for Jackson to explain his love of children, his decision to build his Neverland ranch fantasy park and his feeling at times that he was safer with children than adults - all without cross-examination. "I haven't been betrayed or deceived by children," he said. "Adults have let me down." At another point, Bashir said, "I wonder how an artist like you, who is writing the music of our lives, why people are so quick to criticize you." "That's what's so painful," Jackson responded, "to put your heart into giving joy and having people be so cruel. ... Why hurt the guy that wants to bring sunshine into your life. I don't understand." The video was played just after actor Macaulay Culkin testified that Jackson and he became friends on the basis of their shared experience as child stars. On the video, Bashir asked about Jackson's relationship with Elizabeth Taylor. Asked what he meant, Bashir said, "They say two crazy people get together." "That's rude," said Jackson. "Why not be nice to an older lady that had the same life. We've been through the same things. She's a little girl inside. She's a wonderful person." The lawyer who first talked to Michael Jackson's accuser and his mother told TV talk show host Larry King and another man that he considered the mother "a flake" and that he didn't believe the boy, according to a report of a witness interview filed by Jackson's investigator. Jurors at Michael Jackson's trial heard the singer voicing his innocent love of children, his overwhelming loneliness and his anger at critics who called him "wacko." "Everything I do is inspired by children. If it weren't for children I'd throw in the towel. I'd have no reason to live," said Jackson Sitting with his lawyers, Jackson daubed his eyes with a tissue as he watched himself on the screen. "They called me weird, strange, wacko. They said I'm a girl, a homosexual ... it is jealousy," he said. " "I used to be very lonely, you have no idea," he said, his voice breaking with emotion as if holding back tears. "I would walk up to strangers and say will you be my friend." "One day I was a normal kid who happened to be an actor and the next day there's people hiding in the bushes trying to take pictures of you," Mr. Culkin said. "People try to profit from you. All of a sudden you have a million acquaintances and no friends. . . . The first time we spoke, he said he understood . . . You can't really talk to people about this stuff . . . He understood it and it was a comforting thing. . . . It wasn't a child performer self-help group, but we'd talk about it, how we're part of a unique group of people." Mr. Jackson's mother, Katherine, rubbed the knee of her husband, Joe, as they watched their son explain the need for International Children's Day. "It would be a day when your mother and father say, 'I love you,' and ask 'Would you like to go to the park today, the beach, a toy store?' " the entertainer said. "If I had that day, my relationship with my father would be totally different. He never even played a game with me. . . . With a little love and a little caring, I've seen kids totally turn around." The judge in the Michael Jackson trial Thursday ordered celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos to testify Friday as subpoenaed by his former client's defense team. Geragos represented Jackson after his arrest on child molestation charges in November 2003. He left the case at Jackson's request five months later and was replaced by Thomas Mesereau Jr. Geragos represented Jackson after his arrest on child molestation charges in November 2003. He left the case at Jackson's request five months later and was replaced by Thomas Mesereau Jr. Geragos, who represented Jackson during the early stages of the case, sought to postpone his appearance until at least Monday because of scheduling conflicts. His associate, Shepard Kopp, argued that the defense had not provided adequate time for him to appear. Melville's decision was made outside the presence of jurors. When Kopp again requested flexibility, Melville repeated that Geragos must show this morning. "That will give me time to get the warrant out when he doesn't appear," Melville cracked. David LeGrand said he viewed the boy's family "as a personal liability" to Jackson and urged the entertainer's business partner, Marc Schaffel, to find a way to "wean away" the family from Jackson. The contracts that Jackson signed with Bashir were "terrible," said LeGrand. They consisted of two one-paragraph documents that gave Bashir and Grenada Bashir never followed through on a promise to let the pop star "screen and edit" the final product, LeGrand said. LeGrand testified that after being hired in 2003, he quickly became "suspicious" of Jackson associates, who he believed were trying to control Jackson's business and financial affairs. "It seemed everybody wanted to benefit from Mr. Jackson in one way or the other," LeGrand said. When Jackson at one point complained that media coverage of him is often "twisted," Bashir assured him, "We aren't going to do that here." He also told Jackson that the entertainer was "looking so sexy" during the taping. Also taking the stand Thursday was the son of a Jackson employee, Carlos Velasco. He had attended high school with a boy who had earlier testified of being molested by Jackson. Velasco said he saw the two on several occasions and never saw or heard anything inappropriate. elasco said the boy never spoke about being molested at the time. LeGrand told jurors that he believed Bashir "had misrepresented to Mr. Jackson what they were going to accomplish in this production." When Bashir praised his relationship with his children, Jackson said, "I'm crazy about them. I look in their eyes and I say I love you every day." He also said it was difficult for a celebrity to maintain a marriage. Michael Jackson's former attorney testified at his child-sex trial how he put the family of Jackson's young accuser under surveillance for fear they might try to blackmail the pop star. "I was trying to prevent a crime against my client. I thought they were going to try to shake him down," Mark Geragos told jurors. Geragos was hired by Jackson in February 2003 to help with the fallout of a damaging documentary in which the singer was seen holding hands with his future accuser and admitting to sharing his bed with children. Geragos said he was so concerned about the intentions of the boy's family that he hired a private investigator and had them placed under surveillance. "Things I heard about (them) gave me great pause," Geragos said. "I had a concern at that point that, given what was going on, someone might manipulate my client," he added. "I wanted to know where they were, what they were doing, who they were meeting." After an investigation that lasted five or six weeks, Geragos said he concluded that Jackson should break off all links with the boy's family. "I just felt like it was a pending disaster," he said. "Did you ever conspire to commit any crime?" lead defense lawyer Thomas Mesereau asked. "Absolutely not," Mr. Geragos said. "I was just trying to prevent a crime from being committed against my client." "What crime is that?" Mr. Mesereau continued. "I thought that they were going to shake him down," Mr. Geragos said. . While at Neverland, he heard the boy had been instructed to refer to Mr. Jackson as "Daddy." "It gave me reason to pause," Mr. Geragos testified. "In response to that, I decided to run a database search . . . I was concerned at that point, given the situation, that someone might use the situation to manipulate my client. It was not unknown to me that my client was a frequent target of litigation. . . . He was a ripe target." He said he became gravely concerned when his search unearthed a lawsuit the mother filed against J.C. Penney Co. She received a $150,000 settlement On cross-examination, Mr. Zonen asked Mr. Geragos whether he had seen the documentary that contains "an admission to sleeping with boys." "What do you mean, sleeping with boys?" Mr. Geragos asked. "That he sleeps with boys," Mr. Zonen said. "You mean that boys stay in his room?" Mr. Geragos asked. "I mean that he sleeps with boys," Mr. Zonen said. "Are you saying it's sexual?" Mr. Geragos asked. The heated exchange continued until the judge told Mr. Zonen to take a timeout. When questioning resumed, the prosecutor asked whether Mr. Geragos advised his client not to sleep with boys. Mr. Geragos responded he did not: "I saw someone who was childlike in his love for kids. I saw nothing criminal "The problem, Mr. Zonen, is when people say 'sleeping with someone in his room' and then there's this jump to it being something awful and really, really bad." Mr. Geragos is scheduled to return to the stand on May 20. |
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Witnesses told jurors in Jackson's child molestation trial they saw no signs the mother was fearful or wanted to escape during the family's stay at Jackson's ranch in February 2003. They also said they didn't hear her complain about how the family was being treated. A housekeeper, Maria Gomez, said the mother told her Jackson "was like a father".The housekeeper said that while she was cleaning a guest cottage where the brother stayed, she saw sexually explicit materials in an open backpack. She testified that their beds had been slept in and were "torn apart". She also says the Arvizo boys always left their rooms in a complete mess. Angel Vivanco, a chef's assistant, said the boys showed him adult materials when he brought food to them in one of the guest cottages. Vivanco said the accuser's brother once demanded that he put a liqueur into a milkshake he was preparing for the boy. "He told me if I didn't do it, he would tell Michael, and I would get fired," Vivanco testified. Another witness, Shane Meridith, a former ranch security guard, said he once caught the accuser and his brother alone in Jackson's wine cellar in possession of a half empty bottle of wine. Jackson was on the property at the time but was not with them, he said. Seamount,the orthodontist, said none of the family members asked for help or attempted to call for help, they didn't try to leave the office, and she saw no bodyguards. Asked if members of the family appeared afraid, Seamount answered, "Not at all." She said she got the impression he believed he was "better than us." Seamount testified that the mother asked her to remove her children's braces so she could mail them back to their old orthodontist. "She claimed that once the orthodontist found out who she was he wanted more money," Seamount testified. She testified that boy who is now Jackson's accuser behaved poorly and went through drawers, forcing her to throw away several sterilized items. Also testifying Monday was Carole McCoy, who said she gave the accuser's mother a "full body" wax at a day spa in Los Olivos, a town near Neverland, on February 11, 2003. Her legs, brow, lip and face were waxed, and she also got a bikini wax, McCoy said. During her earlier testimony, the mother insisted she had only her legs waxed. Michael paid for all this...$140. She also testified that Arvizo was bragging about how good Jackson was to her family. Monday's witnesses also said they did not see a film crew following the family during their trips from the ranch. Simone Jackson testified that she saw the adolescent boys each steal a bottle of wine from Mr. Jackson's kitchen at Neverland Valley Ranch in March 2003. The 16-year-old told jurors she was up late playing a video game in the kitchen when she saw the boys sneak in and grab the bottles and wine glasses. "I told them they weren't supposed to do that, and they told me to be quiet and not say anything." In other testimony Tuesday, Los Angeles county social worker Irene Lavern Peters testified that she met with the accuser and his family during the time they claim they were Jackson's captives and they praised him and denied any sexual abuse. Rijo Jackson said he was staying with the brothers one night in 2003 when they turned a television to a station showing naked women, began masturbating and suggested he do the same. "I said I didn't want to 'cause it was nasty," said the witness, who was 10 years old at the time. On cross-examination by prosecutor Ron Zonen, the boy said he went to Michael Jackson's bedroom to sleep after the incident and told the pop star what the boys were watching on TV. "He didn't believe it. He thought they were cool and they wouldn't do that," Rijo Jackson said. Zonen asked whether he told Jackson about the masturbation and the witness said he had not. "I didn't wanna like tell him 'cause I was scared," Rijo Jackson said. Rijo Jackson also testified that he once saw the boys take wine that had been delivered to Michael Jackson's master bedroom.He said the wine was delivered to the downstairs area of the room and they offered to take it upstairs to the singer. The witness said Michael Jackson was in a bathroom when chef's assistant Angel Vivanco brought in the wine with the cork still in the bottle. He said the brothers took the wine upstairs and that when he next saw the bottle the cork was removed and some of the wine was gone. Rijo Jackson said he didn't tell his cousin because he wasn't sure the boys drank the wine. Rijo Jackson also testified he saw the boys steal items from drawers including money belonging to a chef. The witness said he didn't tell Michael Jackson about the alleged stealing because the singer was often away. He said he did try to tell a maid about money being stolen from the kitchen. Despite Mr. Zonen's rapid-fire cross-examination, the quiet boy stood by his story and even told the prosecutor: "I can't understand you. You're talking too fast." Witnesses taking the stand today included actress Vernee Watson Johnson who testified that she met the Arvizos and visited the accuser in the hospital. Ms. Johnson also testified that the family may have been trying to move in with her. She said the mother never directly asked her for money but always made it clear the family was in need. "Whenever I would talk to her, it would be all about what they needed, how they didn't have anything, how they needed a place to live. There was a lot of heavy hinting." Ms. Johnson, who met the children through her acting class in Los Angeles, told jurors the woman coached the kids to request sleepovers. "(The brother) would call, and I could hear (the mother) in the background saying, 'Tell her you love her, tell her you love her.' And then he'd ask to spend the night. I heard her telling (him) to ask me." She said she refused because of how the children acted the one time she did allow them to visit. "It was ridiculous. They were all over my house. . . . They were unruly. They were all into my stuff." Also Wednesday, a videographer who conducted an interview with the accuser and his family in February 2003 testified that their responses were not scripted and they didn't see questions in advance. Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville today barred talk show host Larry King from testifying for the defense in Michael Jackson's child-molestation and conspiracy trial. King said Feldman, who at the time was representing the family of Jackson's accuser, told him he doubted the credibility of the claims against Jackson. According to King, Feldman made disparaging remarks about the accuser's mother. "He thought the woman in this case was a wacko..." King said. "He just thought she was in it for the money." Melville ruled that King's conversation with Feldman was not sufficient to impeach earlier testimony given by the attorney in court. Also today, book publisher Michael Viner, who also was present at the deli with King, gave a similar account of what Feldman had said. His testimony likewise was disallowed by the judge. Azja Pryor took the stand today to testify about her relationship with the accuser's family. Witness Azja Pryor said she had frequent phone conversations with the family in February and March of 2003, when Jackson was alleged to have committed crimes against the family. During those conversations, the family praised Jackson and never accused him of any wrong going, Pryor testified. Although the mother of the accuser earlier testified that she was forced to do a rebuttal interview praising Jackson, Pryor said the woman was looking forward to setting the record straight that nothing inappropriate ever happened between Jackson and her son. "She was very excited...to tell the world that this friendship was nothing more than what they say - a beautiful friendship," Pryor testified. The mother also had testified that there were plans for her family to be taken to Brazil against their wishes. Pryor testified that the mother had invited her to go to Brazil for a holiday. "She said that they were going to Brazil for Carnival," Pryor said. "What a great man he is. He's an angel. His love is great," are among the statements Pryor attributed to the mother. Pryor smiled as she told Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. that the accuser's mother never told her she had tried to escape from Neverland. "Why are you smiling?" asked Mesereau. "It's Neverland," said the witness. "I don't know who would ever want to escape Neverland." The judge later handed the defense a victory when he allowed jurors to see a video tour of the singer's Neverland ranch. Besides the ranch's amusement park rides and zoo animals, the video shows numerous clocks, countering testimony by members of the accuser's family that they were not able to keep track of time while Jackson allegedly held them against their will. District Attorney Tom Sneddon vehemently opposed the video, saying much of it was ''propaganda.'' He cited in particular a scene that showed a note written on a chalkboard by one of Jackson's children, saying ''I love you daddy.'' Michael Jackson's former attorney, Mark Geragos, can refuse to answer questions about events that took place after the pop star's arrest, but his current lead attorney may face sanctions over an error in waiving Jackson's attorney-client privilege, the judge in his child molestation trial ruled Friday. Michael Jackson's former attorney, Mark Geragos, said Friday that he issued a "broad directive" to private investigator Brad Miller to follow the family of the pop star's teenage accuser in February 2003, but he did not instruct the investigator to videotape them. "I was concerned they were meeting with a lawyer to make some accusation or sell their story to tabloids," Geragos told jurors in Jackson's child molestation trial. The sparring between Zonen and Geragos sometimes went far off topic. Zonen at one point noted that the private investigator, Bradley Miller, had paid several months of the family's rent. "Would Mr. Miller be willing to pay my next month's mortgage?" Zonen asked. "How big is your house?" Geragos responded. "It's in Santa Barbara. It's small, " Zonen said. |
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On Monday, the motives of the accuser's mother came under question from witnesses who testified about her finances. The accuser's mother applied for welfare and food stamps two weeks after she received more than $32,000 to settle a lawsuit -- without disclosing the money as required, according to Mercy Dee Manrriquez of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. The disclosure would have affected the family's eligibility for welfare. Mike Radakovich of San Luis Obispo testified that $32,308 was deposited into the mother's Washington Mutual account from a lawsuit settlement from J.C. Penney. The family had accused J.C. Penney security guards of physically mistreating and fondling them while being detained for allegedly shoplifting. The records then show that $29,000 was withdrawn from the account in a cashier's check to a Hollywood Ford dealership. The intake worker on the mother's Nov. 15, 2001, application for assistance which said that the woman had no other sources of income and no assets. Manriquez testified that a person who willfully excludes sources of income from the forms that were signed by the accuser's mother is guilty of fraud. One of Michael Jackson's former housekeepers testified Monday in his child molestation trial that an alarm that sounds when anyone enters the pop star's bedroom suite had the same volume during a test recorded last year as it did in previous years. Jackson's defense, which seeks to show that the accuser's family has a history moneymaking schemes, also called an accountant to show that the family dined, shopped and had other expenses at a cost of $7,000 to Jackson during a week they were allegedly being held captive. Purchases were made at a luggage store and for clothing from a Camarillo, Calif., shopping center.For one two-day period the shopping total was $4,800, according to the records. The woman's former sister-in-law tearfully testified that when the mother learned about her blood drive for the ill boy, she called and said, "She didn't need my (expletive) blood -- she needed money." An El Monte newspaper editor, Connie Keenan, testified the mother repeatedly bugged them to do another article about her son's illness when she didn't make enough money from the first one. Then, when a newspaper intern brought the family a turkey, the mother said she wanted money instead of food. Talk-show host Jay Leno testified Tuesday that he received several phone messages from Michael Jackson's accuser in 2000 and talked to him briefly on the phone, but the comedian said neither the boy nor his family asked him for money. Leno acknowledged that when police contacted him to ask if he thought the family was after money, he said, "I think so." "He seemed a little scripted in his speech," Leno said. He also said "it seemed a little odd to me" that such a young boy would be a fan of "a comedian in his 50s." And while he says he was never directly asked for money, he commented the following: "Sometimes you get a call like, 'I'm a farmer, our tractor's broken, our crops aren't doing well,' and the return address is Brooklyn, New York," Leno said. Testifying for the defense Tuesday, Tucker said his first introduction to the family of Jackson's accuser was at the Laugh Factory, a Los Angeles comedy club. The boy's father had come up to him and said that his son "loved me and was dying of cancer," Tucker said. The comedian testified that he then agreed to attend a fund-raiser for the boy at the club, where they met for the first time. After the fund-raiser, Tucker said the boy told him the event "didn't make any money, and they needed some money," so Tucker wired the family $1,500. He also testified that he took the boy and his siblings to the mall to buy clothes and also to an amusement park, and that he often included them on outings with his own son. Tucker also revealed that it was through the boy that he first met Jackson, whom he said he now considers a friend. In other testimony Tuesday, the office manager for an attorney who represented the accuser's family in a civil lawsuit against J.C. Penney said the boy's mother confided in her that the injuries they claimed were inflicted by store security guards during an altercation in 1998 were actually the result of beatings by her then-husband. Mary Elizabeth Holzer also said the mother told her that she sent her children to a comedy camp because "she wanted them to become good actors so she could tell them what to say." The mother also expressed concern that her younger son would not be able to remember "what we practiced" when he was deposed in the civil case, Holzer said. Holzer said she told the mother that she couldn't lie and that she needed to talk to an attorney to change her description of what had happened, but the mother then threatened her life. "She told me that (her husband's) brother ... is in the Mexican mafia ... and that she knows where I live and they would come and kill me and my 9-year-old daughter," Holzer said. She said she never reported what the mother said about her injuries because she was terrified. Also testifying about the J.C. Penney case Tuesday was Anthony Ranieri, a personal injury lawyer who represented the family in the case.Ranieri also said the mother said in her deposition that her husband never beat her -- something she acknowledged was a lie during her earlier testimony in the Jackson case. Directly after which, the defense called a representative from California's Kaiser-Permanente hospital who confirmed that there were no medical bills because the accuser's biological father's Teamster insurance covered all of the medial expenses. Oops. There is no question that every celebrity, including Jackson, as well as every entity who donated money to this family for "medical bills" were essentially defrauded out of hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Michael Jackson's defense rested Wednesday morning after comedian Chris Tucker testified that he warned the pop star in February 2003 to be careful of the family of his teenage accuser. "I told him to watch out for her because I felt suspicious about her," Tucker said. "I was trying to talk to Michael. She kept interrupting. ... I pulled Michael in a room. I told him, 'You need to watch out.'" At the conclusion of Tucker's testimony, lead defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. rose and told the judge, "Your honor, the defense rests" -- without Jackson taking the stand. "His attorneys did not feel, at this point in time in the trial, it was necessary," Jackson spokeswoman Raymone Bain told CNN. In his testimony Wednesday, Tucker said he thought the accuser -- whom Tucker befriended in 2000 as the boy was battling cancer -- was "smart" and "cunning," telling jurors that the boy would reference his illness when asking Tucker for money. "He would always say, 'Chris, let me have this ... I'm not feeling too good,'" Tucker said. The accuser's younger brother, a key prosecution witness in the trial, was even more cunning, Tucker said, to the point that the "Rush Hour" star felt he needed "to check (the brother's) pockets before he left my house." Tucker also said he flew the family by private jet to Miami in February 2003 because the accuser told him that he wanted to go there to be with Jackson -- contradicting assertions by both the family and the prosecution that the trip was part of an effort by Jackson's camp to enlist their help with a news conference. Tucker said he gave this warning after the boy's mother repeatedly referred to Jackson as like a father and to Tucker as like a brother to her children. Tucker said he remains a friend of Jackson but hasn't had a conversation with the family for about a year. He testified that he called the accuser out of the blue about a year ago and said hello to him. However, he said, the phone call was cut off after the accuser's mother screamed for her son to get off the phone. Tucker also said that at one point he considered giving a truck to the family but then became concerned that he was doing too much for them. "They were constantly calling for the truck and I felt the mother was making them call because it was getting on my nerves," Tucker said. Michael Jackson's prosecutors will be allowed to end their case where it began -- with a tape of Jackson's accuser talking to police for the first time about his claims that the singer molested him. Judge Rodney S. Melville decided Thursday to permit jurors to see the July 2003 videotape. That opened the possibility of a second courtroom confrontation between Jackson and the boy, whom defense attorneys want to question after the tape is played. Melville, however, turned down a prosecution request to show pictures of Jackson's genitals that were taken during a previous molestation investigation. For 12 years now, there has been information floating around that Chandler gave approx 2 different descriptions of Jackson's body before he finally gave one that apparently "matched", conveniently only after police had already taken pictures of Jackson's body back in 1993. According to the original charges filed against Jackson -- the accuser claimed abuse BEGAN Feb 7 2003. But according to the indictment in 2004, he claimed abuse BEGAN Feb 20 2003. At one point the accuser alleged Jackson tried to give him pills, not alcohol. A contract for $20,000 between two British tabloid reporters and the mother and stepfather of Michael Jackson's accuser has surfaced. When the accuser's mother, Janet Arvizo, testified for the prosecution, she told the jury she "wasn't the kind of person" to sell her story - but apparently she was indeed. The Michael Jackson child molestation case is heading toward its close. Both sides rested Friday in something of a surprise. The defense decided to rest without rebuttal after the prosecution played a videotaped interview with the accuser. The police video, which was recorded July 6, 2003 by Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department detectives, offered a graphic description of what the accuser says Jackson did to him. Judge Rodney Melville ordered jurors to watch it solely to assess the boy's demeanor, manner and attitude, not to determine the truth of the matter. The police interview with the accuser reportedly it simply didn't live up the expectations. Some jurors were looking around as if to say 'yeah, yeah, we know, we know'. They may have been a little impatient with the prosecution as well. Also on the tape during questioning, the police would reportedly say things to Arvizo like "Michael Jackson is the bad one here, you are the good one. You and your family are the good ones". Arvizo "mumbled a lot, looked down a lot, sighed a lot" and police practically had to coax an allegation out of him on the tape. Apparently Arvizo was also caught telling somewhat of a different story than what he would later tell the grand jury. The accuser's story also varied from one of the versions his brother told. |
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June |
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Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon decided not to give the prosecution's final summation, assigning that task instead to his deputy, Ron Zonen. Tuesday's arguments from lawyers went on for hours, prompting defense attorney Robert Sanger to say: "Your honor, if we had televised today's proceedings we could have deterred an entire generation of kids from going to law school." Pop icon Michael Jackson sat quietly in court Wednesday as the 12 jurors were given their instructions ahead of closing arguments from both sides. The judge told them to make their decision without "pity for or prejudice toward" the defendant. The charges against Jackson consist of four counts of molestation, four counts of giving the boy alcohol in order to abuse him, one count of conspiracy and one of attempted molestation. Jurors were told they could consider the four alcohol counts as lesser charges of "furnishing alcohol to a minor." This would be considered a misdemeanor and means that the jury would not have to relate the alcohol to any intended molestation. Judge Melville told jurors not to consider the four videos played in the trial for the truth of any remarks made in them, except for certain statements . The Judge said jurors would be told to consider the alleged past acts only if they "tend to show [Jackson's] intent" with regard to the current charges against him. The judge paused at one point to determine if the jurors were paying attention. "You know I read to my wife at night so she'll go to sleep. Am I having that effect here?" he said. On Thursday, a prosecutor in closing arguments called Jackson a "predator" with a drinking problem who sought out vulnerable boys from fatherless homes . But Jackson's lead defense attorney said that while the singer may be "naive" and "offbeat," he is no child molester, and the accuser and his family are "con artists" whose testimony is not credible enough to send the entertainer to prison. Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau countered in his closing argument that the prosecution revealed the weakness of its case by attacking him. "Whenever a prosecutor does that you know they're in trouble," Mesereau told the panel, which is expected to get the case on Friday. "This is not a popularity contest between lawyers." He said the family and others clearly are planning to sue Jackson after the trial. "Everyone is looking for a big payday at the expense of Michael Jackson," Mesereau said. "There's going to be great celebration in this group if he's convicted of one single count in the case." Mesereau also showed charts suggesting it was ridiculous to believe that during a time when Jackson was under international scrutiny he would then choose to commit molestation. Mesereau responded that Jackson wasn't charged with possessing illegal pornography because everything in his home was legal, that no child pornography was found in his home or computers, and that prosecutors used the adult magazines just to make the singer look bad. "They have dirtied him up because he's human. But they haven't proven their case because they can't," the defense attorney said. Mesereau suggested the accuser and his brother feigned innocence on sexual matters. In a video of the accuser's first interview with sheriff's investigators "he acts like he doesn't know what an erection is. He's 13," the attorney said. Mesereau also said the boy was unemotional as he described the alleged molestation in the video and in testimony. The jury deciding pop star Michael Jackson's guilt or innocence on child molestation charges deliberated two hours Friday before calling it quits for the weekend. He'll await the verdict at his Neverland Ranch, about an hour away from the Santa Maria courthouse. "It only takes one lie under oath to throw this case out of court," Mesereau told the eight women and four men on the jury. "You can't count the number of lies told by [the family]." "You must throw this case where it belongs -- out the door," he said. Zonen ended his presentation by replaying for the jury part of a police interview conducted with Jackson's accuser in July 2003. Zonen also pointed to testimony about Jackson's relationship with another boy in the early 1990s."This man has never had an adult companionship to that extent that any of us have heard of," the prosecutor said. "Are we expected to believe he's simply non-sexual?" Jackson arrived on time, despite having visited a hospital near his Neverland Ranch Thursday. Defense attorney Tom Mesereau finished his incredibly powerful closing statement today. He literally picked apart the different versions of the different stories Gavin, Star, Davellin and Janet Arvizo all told. He touched on everything from the under oath grand jury testimony, to police statements, to under oath court statements; highlighting numerous inconsistent stories. Mesereau says the dates of the alleged molestations have changed. He said the number of times of that he said he was molested have changed. And at one point, Mesereau looked at the jurors and he said "How many lies does this guy have to tell for you to see what's going on?" Totally explosive and devastating closing argument from Mesereau. And he just said to the jurors "If you convict Michael Jackson of anything, they're gonna be multi-millionaires. It's the biggest con of their career. They'll be celebrating. They're waiting, they just need you to help them. " . In fact, Tom Mesereau used that video that everybody else has talked about. The accuser's first interview. He said "I hope you do look at his demeanor." He said, "Look at his demeanor as he lies." He once again said, "He's cunning and he's smart. Remember what Chris Tucker said." Mesereau says the mother committed perjury right inside the courtroom in front of these jurors. He also says that perjury was a habit to her. Mesereau also played clips from the outtakes of the Bashir "documentary"; clips that Bashir purposely left out of the broadcast version. People inside the courtroom actually applauded when Mesereau finished playing the outtakes. Definitely not a good sign for the prosecution. Even some pro-prosecution outlets have started to ask a few questions about the argument prosecutor Ron Zonen made before the jury. One of the pieces of "evidence" used in his closing included a photo-collection of Jackson and pictures of Jordan Chandler, Jason Francia, Brett Barnes and Gavin Arvizo. Prosecutors were trying to show that these kids look similar. Some observers already pointed out that it was "disingenuous" for them to include a picture of Brett Barnes in that list because Barnes has testified that Jackson never did anything to him.But other observers have pointed out another disingenuous if not outright deceitful problem with this. Conspicuously absent from this little photo-show were pictures of blonde hair, blue-eyed Mac Culkin and blonde-haired Wade Robson. They don't fit that "profile" of what the prosecution tried to claim are Jackson's "victims", so the prosecution purposely left them out. |
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June 13-THE VERDICT: 14 NOT GUILTY |
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We're very pleased to have Jackson juror Melissa Herard joining us now. Juror #8. Welcome, Melissa Herard, thanks for being our guest online today. sfboys: what was it like being in the courtroom with michael for that long? was it odd to be in the presence of a superstar. At first it was a little intimidating. But after sitting there for all those months, he just was another person. I mean, he's human, like the rest of us. You know, I am impressed at how he sat there throughtout the whole trial. I could see him the whole time, he didn't do any of what people are saying, giving people the peace sign -- he didn't do any of that. He's just a regular person. He'd laught when we'd laugh, that broke some of the tension, and I think the judge realized that. CindyRilla: Melisa, do you find the 1109 evidence and witnesses were weak as well? not just weak. We were instructed specifically to look at the 1108 not for the truth of the matter. We were to look at that as wheter it established a pattern with MJ, as I called him in my notebooks, and that right there -- there was no pattern. We could not estabilish a pattern. This case was totally different from the 1993 accusations, so there was there that promoted a pattern. at: Do you think that it is fair to use the 1108 evidence in a current case? Well, I'm not to second guess Judge Melville. He did what he had to do as a judge. To me, do I think it was fair -- it made me personally ask more questions in my own mind. And I think that helped me along when we were in the deliberations. All of that -- there was more evidence from 1993 that there was this time, the 2003 case. LuvU2: What was it like seeing MJ in his Pajama Pants? No big deal for me -- my children have worn their PJs to school. That's a thing that they do around here. I wish I could wear my jammies. lookingglass72: I would like to know if the books and the mags layed a part in their decision or how they viewed them. It was testimony that he received a lot of things from people from around the world, from fans, and he's a packrat, he keeps everything, you could see it in the pictures and stuff they showed as evidence from his room and all the stuff that's kept there. None of those items are illegal to have, and he wasn't charged with showing the accusers pornography. And out of 21,000 pages of fingerprints, not one of them could put them together in the same room, because there was testimony that the accuser was caught looked at the magazines without Michael Jackson being present. Out of all of these pages, they only found fingerprints on several, so who's to say that he even looked at most of that stuff. JurySupporter: What did you think of the Macaulay Culkin testimony? I think he was great -- he was relaxed, he was forward, he didn't hesitate on any of his answers. I truly believed him. The person who testified that he saw Jackson do something with Macauley -- think about it -- if I saw somebody doing something like that, I would definitely turn them in. But these people were so nervous about losing their jobs, so they didn't -- but they only made minimum wage, c'mon. And all of them from 1993 ended up suiing Michael Jackson, and he's the one who ended up winning the cases. And he still hasn't gone after them for the million dollars he was awarded. Genaro: Why wasn't the boy deemed credible? Well, it wasn't that he wasn't deemed credible, it was just that there were too many inconsistences in his story. It just didn't fit into that whole picture. JurySupporter: Now that you have access to the media, are you surprised by any of it? Oh, definitely. I couldn't imagine having them follow you and stick microphones in your face -- I couldn't live with that every day. nature: Has the after-verdict attention from the world been difficult for you? I left my family for two days and flews to New York, and it's still continuing on. I'll be on Larry King tomorrow night, and hopefully after that, it will all die down, because I'm getting ready to move and it would be nice to just leave it all behind. justice4all05: How has the community received you and other jurors since your verdict? It's great -- because the people that I know wanted to know how everything went, and they totally believe in me -- they know I was there and they totally trust me to do the right thing. I've had strangers come up to me and thank me, for doing such a fine job -- and I didn't even know them. I haven't had one persone come up to me and be negative to me. JurySupporter: Melissa, great job! Did you at any point, think there would be guilty verdicts and if so, on what charges? There were some trying times in there, but we all had to remember that in this country, you're innocent until proven guilty. But we went through all the evidence and came to a unanimous conclusion that he wasn't guilty. Athena: Do you believe it possible that Jason Francia's admission was coerced by police? I don't know what to say on that -- it was very emotional when he was testifying. It just didn't fit in -- and again, as far as his testimony was concerned, we were not to look at it to consider the truth of the matter, just a pattern -- and the pattern just wasn't there. nature: Melissa: did your knowledge of sexual abuse give you insight into the young accuser's credibility? No, I can't say that the past experiences that I had had anything to do with it because mine had to do with girls not boys, so there could be a difference about the way they come forward. His testimony just was not consistent. JERRY: Hi Melissa, I believe that the jury that you sat on mirrored the OJ Simpson jury. The Simpson jury made the whole trial about Furhman and the jury you sat on made the whole trila about the kids mother. I thought that was very unfair of the jury. First off, just because she was aggressive in her testimony does not mean that it blew the whole case. We didn't put it like that. It wasn't just the mother's testimony -- that's why we were there so long. We rewieved testimonty, videos, and we all talked it out because we all had our own facts in our notes. No, it wasn't just based on the mother. I think that people need to understand that the mother had nothing to do with the molestation part. I feel sorry for the family. I don't dislike them, because I don't know them, but in this case, there was nothing found, so we had to go on that. Bubblegum: Melissa...why no conviction on the alcohol? At least? Those charges, since we found MJ not guilty on the administering of an intoxicating agent for a felony, we were given a choice of finding him guilty or not guilty on a misdemeanor charge. And not once was there testimony throughout the whole trial that MJ either gave them alcohol. There Was testimony by some of the security personnel that some of the boys were caught with alcohol. And I feel there is a lot of reasonable doubt there -- so we had to do what we had to do. Mystie: Hi Melissa: What was the tension level like in the deliberation room? I don't know how to put it. We all had gotten very close and when we were in the deliberating room, at some times it was really tense but when we had our ten minutes breaks, we could still get up, hug each other, and go outside and have our breaks, eat lunch together, and get back to work. novelidea: To Melissa: How do you feel when interviewers challenge you rahter harshly about your decision because they didn't agree with it? That's okay, because this is America, and everybody can believe what they want. It doesn't affect me, because I believe we did the right thing on what we were instructed to do, and I stand by that. They weren't in there. treebabi: are you writing a book? LOL. You know, we're instructed that we're not allowed to for 90 days, so we'll just have to wait and see. JurySupporter: How did the jury react to the personalities of the lawyers? Did you find some of them to be more effective than others? I personally believed that both sides did a phenomenal job. Some lawyers were more interesting than others, but they both did a great job, especially the prosecution, considering who they had to work with. I could see them struggling some. at: Has you life changed? Yeah. I think it has. Sitting there for those months has actually made me try not to judge people for what they appear like, but to really stop and listen. My family has always been important, but it's made me realize it even more. I'm moving away, but my oldest three children will be stayin in the area. JUSTICE: Hi Melissa. Did you ever see the MJ fans and could you hear them outside while you were in the jury room? You could hear just a teeny bit. We couldn't hear any words spoken. When we took our breaks we could hear them outside, and we saw them in the morning, when we came in - the bikini lady - but it didn't affect anything. janena: I would like to know how you felt about the testimony of Debbie Rowe, she was called by the pros, but ended up making favorable statements for the defence, were you surprised about that? Not really. From looking at the way she looked at Michael. I wouldn't expect her to tear him down. He is the father of her children too. Ty: Hi. Did you feel the press was really hard on MJ? As I'm looking back on some of the things that were going on at the time, because we weren't allowed to look at it during the trial, yes, I asked myself were they in the same courtroom as I was. What's funny, it's more like thay had their own personal opinion and they left out a lot of the stuff that would show the other side, because the more sensationalized it is, the more papers they would sell. So yes, they were biased, most of them. justice4all05: Hi Melissa, can you tell us if any of the jurors admitted to watching Jay Leno during the trial? It was reported that the judge made a joke the next day and all of the jurors laughed like they knew he was talking about. You know, i didn't watch Jay Leno, so when they started laughing, I started laughing. JurySupporter: What were the results of the first vote taken by the jury? It depended on what count. We had three options, we did guilty, not guilty, or question. It was different on different charges. We had to have a place to start. And then we just went on from there. After: Melissa, did you think it was appropriate for Cococoz to attend that Jackson party? And did you go? It wasn't me. But yes, there's no crime in that. They gave out bracelets to anyone who went to the gate. I'd like to ask you a question: I want to know, if people are so upset about the juror going to the party that Michael Jackson did not put on, but his family put on: would they be upset that I have Michael Jackson CDs or go buy a new one? Because when I was questioned to be put on this jury, I let them know that I grew up in Detroit, with Michael Jackson's music, so am I bad for listening to his music? They need to understand that Michael Jackson and his music are totally separate from what was happening in that courtroom. gcf1172: Did the jury believe that mj was infact a child molester that the prosecution just couldn't prove it in this case? Mystie: Three jurors were mentioned as believing Michael Jackson had molested before. Were you one of them? No, I wasn't one of them. i think everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Amber: At any time during the trial, did you ever find yourself wondering why the DA forwarded this legal action? Well, I think that I really haven't had time to think about that one, I'll have to get back to you on that one! Blizzard: What did you think when the Mother said she saw Jackson lick her son's head and did nothing about it? At that time, when she testified to that, she seemed so dramatic, and it was like, over the top, and being a mother myself, if I saw someone licking my child's head, I wouldn't just keep it in my head, I would go over and do something about it. Her excuse was that she just thought she was seeing things -- does she see a lot of things? It was just too much over the top. It would be strange that everybody was sleeping on a private jet - I flew on a private jet (after the case) and we had two stewards, and they didn't sit down the whole time. And they had twice as many people on the plane, so I don't see how they could have been sitting down at all. It just didn't add up. sfboys: Have you read about anything that was kept from the jury durign the case? Would anything have changed the way you feel about the outcome? Or does it just solidify your decision. Actually, a lot of things I head would have solidified our action -- but I probably haven't heard everything. Any closing thoughts? I'd just like to thank everybody to take the time to listen to the TRUE story. Our American justice system does worlk, and people have to remember that people are innocent until proven guilty BEYOND a reasonable doubt. Thank you. Thank you! |
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Michael Jackson's Attorney Speaks Out About Trial LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, a prime-time exclusive: Michael Jackson's defense lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, how he won yesterday's total victory in Jackson's child molestation trial. How Michael is really doing right now and more. Thomas Mesereau for the hour with your phone calls, a prime time exclusive next on LARRY KING LIVE. He comes to us from Santa Maria, California, his great victory there yesterday, a shutout victory. By the way, Tom, on your skills on cross-examination, Loyola law professor Lauri Levenson said she's the best she's ever seen. Is that an art or a science? THOMAS MESEREAU, MICHAEL JACKSON'S LAWYER: It's really an art, Larry. And I'm very flattered by the comment. I don't know if it's well deserved, but it is an art. It's something that you're always learning about, you never completely master. And you have to always be open-minded about how to do it. KING: How did you get this case? MESEREAU: I had known Randy Jackson for many years. Initially, when the search of Neverland took place, I did get a call about flying to Las Vegas to meet Michael Jackson. I could not do it then. I was tied up in the Robert Blake case, getting ready for trial and, eventually, I had a falling out with Mr. Blake. And about three months after that, I got another call to fly to Florida and meet Michael, and one thing led to another. KING: Is -- is it common in criminal cases for lawyers to be switched, like Blake drops you, you go somewhere else? MESEREAU: I don't know if it's common, but you know, the criminal defense business is a very tense, high stakes business, and clients do get very upset at times. They're very vulnerable emotionally, and changes do happen from time to time. KING: Did you work with Jackson's preceding lawyers? MESEREAU: A little bit. Mark Geragos was very gracious and very professional at all times. I've known him for a long time. He's a very, very decent and very, very skilled lawyer. And he was very helpful in the transition. KING: You said that you were not surprised by the verdict, meaning you were confident. But most lawyers say never predict a jury. Never be confident. Explain. MESEREAU: I was confident. I thought that we had really destroyed their case very effectively on cross examination, and I thought we had called a lot of very effective witnesses in our case. And I thought when you put that whole package together, they were going to have trouble. KING: How do you psychologically prepare a client for something like -- like for example, do you make him aware that he might be in jail that night? Do you discuss that at all, or do you only go the positive routes? MESEREAU: It depends on the client, Larry. You have to be candid with your client. You have to explain the possibilities and the options without sounding defeatist. And at no time did I ever take a defeatist attitude with Michael Jackson, because I always thought we'd win this case. KING: What kind of client was he? MESEREAU: He's a wonderful client. He's one of the easiest clients to deal with that I've ever experienced. He's very kind. He's very gentle. He's very cooperative. He's a very, very honorable, decent person. And I thoroughly enjoyed representing him, and I consider him a friend. KING: Was there any thought of him taking the stand? MESEREAU: Yes, there was. When I gave my opening statement, I intended to put him on the stand, and he intended to testify. As the case developed, it became very clear to me that he didn't have to. We had cross-examined very effectively. We had shown the jury a videotape of a two hour and 45-minute interview with Michael Jackson, where he explained his life and his philosophy of music and living and his experiences growing up. And when we put all that together, we decided there was nothing really to be achieved by it. KING: Was there ever a point, Tom, where you were, during this, down? MESEREAU: You know, Larry, it's interesting. All trials have ups and downs. And all trials have surprises. But in this case, I felt that we were very aggressive from the opening bell, in our opening statement, in our cross examination of their initial witnesses. And our plan was to be extremely aggressive and put them on the defensive as quickly as possible. And I think we achieved that. So, we had a lot of good days in this trial, particularly in their case, and particularly in our case. And I was always confident. KING: There were some who were saying the prosecution was obsessed with Michael Jackson. Do you share that view? MESEREAU: Yes, I do. I share it completely. I think they were not objective about this case. They were not objective about their witnesses. They were not objective about the theories they tried to prove, which were unprovable, because they were false. And I think their obsession really hurt them. KING: You think it goes back to the settlement years back? MESEREAU: I don't know where it began, Larry. It would appear around that time there developed an obsession about Michael Jackson in this prosecuting agency, but, clearly they were not being objective when they put this case together. KING: Now, why, Tom? I mean, they had people come to them. They had a lady come to them, the son telling them stories. They had other people who were witnesses. Why did they make a mistake in going ahead with this? MESEREAU: Well, first of all, they never thoroughly investigated the accusers and the accuser's family, in my opinion. And if you look at the early interviews with the accusers, you'll see the police basically accepting their story before they even investigated who they are. It was really us that found all the problems with these witnesses, what their history, with their backgrounds. The prosecution almost turned a blind eye to what was really going on. And I think even in the middle of the trial, they were trying to deny reality, and it caught up with them. KING: How big a factor was Macaulay Culkin? MESEREAU: He was a big factor. He was a wonderful witness for Michael Jackson. And I will always have tremendous respect for Macaulay Culkin. He's on top of the world. He didn't have to go to bat for his friend. And he did it anyway. And there never was any doubt that he was going to come and testify. He always said, "I want to be there. I want to help Michael Jackson, and I want to tell the truth." He was a big factor, and he was a man of really strong character. KING: Do you like to talk to jurors after trial, win or lose? MESEREAU: I do. I haven't had the opportunity to do it here, but, yes, I do. You always learn things from jurors. And I've never had the privilege to be a juror myself. So -- and I've always liked to have the opportunity, but I never did. I always get bumped off when I get called for jury duty. KING: I would imagine. We had one of the -- we had the foremen on last night. We also had one of the jurors who said he believed that Michael Jackson was or is a pedophile. It's just that this prosecution didn't prove this case. How do you react to a statement like that? MESEREAU: Well, I think he's wrong. Michael Jackson is not a pedophile. He's never been a pedophile. The prosecution has spent years trying to put together a story which they hoped they could prove and failed to prove. Michael Jackson is not a pedophile. He's never molested a child, nor would he ever even conceive of doing such a thing. KING: So these were concocted stories? MESEREAU: Well, certainly, they were concocted by the main accusers, and certainly, the prosecution tried to create the impression that other people were molested. And they all came in and said they weren't. KING: The amazing thing, though, is when you have a guy who's certainly different from the norm, an older -- a man who sleeps with boys, to get a jury, as my friend Edward Bennett Williams used to say, what you have with a jury is to get the jury to put themselves in your client's shoes. If the jury can put themselves in your client's shoes, you win. How does someone put themselves in Michael Jackson's shoes? MESEREAU: Well, first of all, Larry, this notion that he sleeps with boys was a concoction by the prosecution. What he said very openly was that he allows families into his room. Now, his room is the size of a duplex. It's two levels. He's had mothers sleep there, fathers sleep there, sisters sleep there, brothers sleep there. The prosecution concocted this little saying about sleeping with boys, because they thought it would turn off the jury, and they failed. But yes, we did have to explain who Michael Jackson was to the jury, that he's a very creative spirit, a very gentle soul, a brilliant musician, a brilliant choreographer, and a very sensitive person who's very concerned about the world and the problems in the world. And he has a very childlike spirit and essence to him, and he attracts children all over the world. We did have to explain who he was. But this is a country which prides itself on diversity, on the freedom to be who you are. And we never diverted our attention from who Michael was. We never tried to make him look like anything but himself. He never tried to dress differently for the courtroom. Our whole intention is to show who Michael is and be proud of it and embrace it. KING: We'll be right back with more of Thomas Mesereau, Michael Jackson's very successful defense attorney. We'll have more questions. We'll take your calls, as well. He's with us for the full program. Don't go away. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) THOMAS SNEDDON, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY D.A.: When a victim comes in, the victim tells you they've been victimized, and you believe that and you believe that the evidence supports that, you don't look at their pedigree. We look at what we think is what's right. You do the right things for the right reasons. If it doesn't work out, that's why we have a jury system. But we did the right thing for the right reasons. (END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK) KING: Thomas Mesereau is our special guest. What's it like in your gut? Now, you can be as confident as you wish, but when they walk in, before those words are uttered, what goes through you? MESEREAU: You know, Larry, it's a very tense, uncomfortable moment. You never really get used to it. Your heart skips a few beats. And it's something that I never look forward to, in a sense, because it's never easy. KING: Did you, at all, clutch Jackson's arm or he your arm? MESEREAU: Yes. When the verdicts were being read, I did grab Michael's hand. And he seemed to appreciate it. I wanted to show him my support. And I also wanted to send the message, "We are winning this case." KING: What did he say to you when all 10 counts were read? MESEREAU: He said the word, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." His first reaction was gratitude. Gratitude to God, gratitude to his defense team. Gratitude to his family and friends. That's really all he said. KING: And that's the joy of a criminal defense lawyer, right? MESEREAU: You bet. KING: What happened -- he posted bail, did he not? Is that returned immediately? How is his -- what, did he take a lien on the house? How is that done? MESEREAU: Well, that was done early in the case. It was done, actually, before I was -- appeared on the case as council of record. And bail was posted by a bail bondsman. It was secured by property. KING: And is that then torn up immediately? MESEREAU: Yes, yes. When he was acquitted, the provision was made for bail to be revoked, and he moves on and he's free. KING: When your friend, Mark Geragos, who was on this program last week, he was highly critical of pundits, television pundits, 24 hour news, round-the-clock people knocking, making forecasts. He was even giving thought that maybe the British system of not allowing coverage of trials is better. What are your thoughts about pundits? MESEREAU: By the way, I used the word "revoked." Bail was exonerated, not revoked. KING: Good. MESEREAU: I share Mark Geragos' comments. I think that we have developed an industry of would-be experts who are not professional, who are not experienced, who are very amateurish about their comments about what's going on in courtrooms and who are willing to give opinions when they're not even there. And I think it has become the theater of the absurd, and I think it reached its lowest level in this case. KING: What was it like for you to -- you weren't under an order not to watch it. What was it like to watch it? MESEREAU: Well, I didn't watch it that often, Larry. I was too busy working on the case. KING: But you knew it was going on? MESEREAU: I knew a lot of it was going on. When I would take a break in my apartment while I was preparing, I would turn on the TV set. And a lot of it was appalling: the factual inaccuracies, the obvious bias among people like Court TV, who I felt was really an arm of the prosecution through this case. It was very amateurish and very unprofessional and very disturbing. KING: Would you say it is -- it is hard or impossible to predict an outcome of a trial you didn't attend? MESEREAU: It's very hard, because you don't know the chemistry of the courtroom. You're not watching the interaction between the witnesses and the jury and the judge and both sides. There's just so much that you miss if you're not there. And plus, how do you compress, you know, six to eight hours of testimony into a sound bite? You can't possibly be accurate. KING: What about the British system? Once an arrest is made, no coverage? MESEREAU: Well, there's certainly a lot to be said for that. I frankly like freedom of the press. But it's reaching an absurd state when it comes to trials in America. We are obsessed with celebrity trials. It's become an industry of pundits who really are trying to be movie stars and not real legal experts. And it's just -- it just reached the bottom of the barrel in this case. Fortunately, the jury was not affected. They did the right thing. KING: The prosecutor, Mr. Sneddon, said that there is celebrity justice, like in California. Blake is an example. This is an example, O.J. How do you react? MESEREAU: That's sour grapes on his part. I'll tell you what celebrity injustice was in this case. It was sending 70 sheriffs to raid Michael Jackson's home in a search. It was putting more experts, more sheriffs and more investigators on this case than they do with serial killers. That's what I call celebrity injustice. So in a sense, he's correct; he just is looking at it the wrong way. KING: Does... MESEREAU: Michael Jackson was treated differently because he was a celebrity. KING: Does, though, a celebrity have an edge in that we can assume going in most of the people like them? MESEREAU: I don't consider that necessarily an edge. I think that jurors tend to be very mindful that they're not supposed to treat celebrities differently, and they might even go -- bend over backwards to make sure they don't do that. So, there's a lot of injustice that's directed at celebrities. They're bigger targets for prosecutors. They're bigger targets for sheriffs and police officers. They're bigger targets for people who want fame and fortune. KING: What do you make of -- what's your assessment of the performance of the prosecution in the courtroom? MESEREAU: They were extremely aggressive and extremely prepared and very determined. I think their biggest problem was they were not objective about their case. They believed things they wanted to believe. They tried to prove theories that were absurd. And they tried to demonize Michael Jackson in a way which looked absolutely ridiculous when you really took a close look at the evidence. And they went way over the edge, and it hurt them. KING: Weren't you very concerned, though, when that tape was allowed in at the end? MESEREAU: I was concerned. I didn't think there was a legal basis for it. But after looking at it a second time and realizing how many conflicting statements this accuser had made in that interview and how that interview showed the police officer was willing to accept his story before he even investigated the case, the more I looked at it, the more I thought it would probably help us. And based on some of the juror's comments, it did help us. KING: Emotionally, is it hard to press when you cross-examine an accuser, a young accuser, a mother? MESEREAU: Well, you have to gauge your cross-examination to the witness. You don't want to look like a bully. You don't want to look like you're -- you're really taking advantage of your position. However, you have to adjust, depending on the personality in front of you. Some young kids are -- have a level of maturity that's extremely high. And as Chris Tucker said about the accuser, he was very cunning and very smart. We had to take all of that into account and factor our cross-examination accordingly. And I think you also want a cross-examination -- you want to cross-examine at different speeds with different tones, and you want to do whatever you think will be effective for that particular witness. KING: We'll be right back with more of Thomas Mesereau. We'll be including your phone calls. Tomorrow night, Jermaine and Tito Jackson, Michael's brothers, will be our special guests. And Thursday night, a very special hour with a very special man, Reverend Billy Graham. We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SNEDDON: We believed in the child. We believed in the case and we believed that there was sufficient corroboration for what the children said occurred. And so, whether it be Michael Jackson, or John Smith, or whoever it may be, this is the kind of case that a sheriff investigates. The sheriff believed in this case, and their detectives believed in this case, and we believed in this case. And like I said, I'm not going to apologize for what we do. (END VIDEO CLIP) KING: I guess, Tom Mesereau, the jury didn't agree? MESEREAU: They certainly didn't. Michael Jackson was acquitted of every felony count and every misdemeanor count. It was a clean sweep. KING: Did you expect any -- did you have any worries about some of the misdemeanor counts? MESEREAU: I really didn't, because to convict him of any of the misdemeanor counts, you had to believe the accuser beyond a reasonable doubt. And that was not going to happen, in my opinion. KING: So, even as small a thing as serving liquor without any intention for sex was turned down as well by the jury? MESEREAU: They were completely turned down by the jury. They did not believe these accusers. They did not believe any of these -- this family's testimony on any significant level. KING: Would you like cameras in the courtroom? MESEREAU: You know, I have mixed feelings about it. I'm glad there were not cameras in this particular courtroom. I think it would have created more of a circus-type environment than existed outside the courtroom, already. I like the idea of the public seeing what goes on in courts, because we're supposed to conduct public trials. But I think given the media's repeated attempts to make a circus- liken environment out of criminal trials, I'm beginning to change my opinion of that, and maybe they don't belong in courtrooms. KING: Do you like gag orders? MESEREAU: I don't particularly like them. I think in this case, it worked very well. I think the temptation among lawyers and prosecutors to become movie stars, and essentially promote themselves on camera is something that's got to be avoided, if we're going to have justice in our criminal justice system. KING: Mr. Mark Geragos a good witness for you? MESEREAU: He was an excellent witness. He was a very, very honest witness. He really spoke for his client. He explained, very simply and very carefully and honestly, what he had done to surveil this family because of his suspicions. And he really did go to bat for his client. KING: There were some Jackson supporters concerned over the fact there was no black on the jury -- composite of that community, of course. There was a black alternate. Were you concerned about the race issue? MESEREAU: Well, certainly Michael Jackson is part of a very prominent African-American family and initially, we did hope there would be some African-American representation on the jury. But once the jury was picked, I always had a good feeling about this jury. I always felt they were very independent-minded. Nobody was going to intimidate them. They were going to take their job very seriously and be very fair. And I was correct. KING: Do you like jurors who take notes? MESEREAU: I don't know how to answer that, Larry. I think note-taking is an indication that someone is paying attention and very concerned about their job. But on the other hand, you can also be paying attention and absorbing what's going on without taking notes. So, I don't really know how to answer that question. KING: All right. When the jury asked a couple of questions of the judge, they were not revealed to the press or the public. Were you concerned about any of that? Anything you can tell us about what they asked? MESEREAU: You know, I really don't want to reveal that. I don't know if Judge Melville has unsealed those questions, or not. So, at this point, I'd rather not discuss that. KING: Were you concerned by any of them, without telling us what they were? MESEREAU: I was not concerned. I was actually encouraged by them. KING: So, when you heard the question, that furthered your confidence? MESEREAU: Yes, it did. KING: How well did the judge do? MESEREAU: The judge was an outstanding jurist. I think all judges in America should learn a lesson from the way Judge Melville conducted this trial. He was determined, from day one, that this was not going to get out of control. He was determined that justice was going to be done in and outside that courtroom. He employed some very creative procedures to make sure that order was kept throughout the trial. He did a masterful job and I have total respect for Judge Melville and his wonderful staff. KING: Even though he got mad at you a few times? MESEREAU: Yes, he did, but he got mad at the prosecution, also. He was very fair-minded. KING: That's all you want, right? balance and fair? MESEREAU: That's, I think, the most we can expect, and we had it with Judge Melville. He's an outstanding judge. KING: We'll be right back with more a Thomas Mesereau. We'll be including your phone calls on this edition of LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... The mother, when she looked at me and snapped her fingers a few times, and she says, "You know how our culture is," and winks at me. I thought, "No, that's not the way our culture is." UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As a mother to -- the values and stuff that she has taught them and they've learned -- and that is really hard for me to comprehend, you know, because I wouldn't want any of my children to lie for their own gain. (END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK) KING: We're back with Thomas Mesereau. We certainly thank him for giving us this time tonight, exclusively. Let's take a few calls. Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the victorious defense attorney. Hello. CALLER: Hi. Um, Mr -- hi, Larry. KING: Hi. CALLER: Mr. Mesereau, do you have any idea when Michael might make a statement? MESEREAU: You know, I really don't. I have not talked to him about that. Michael is going to have to go through a period of physical recovery. He's exhausted. He was not sleeping. He was not eating. It was a very, very traumatic experience for him and it's going to take a while for him to recover. I don't anticipate his making a statement very soon, but I suppose it's possible. But I have not discussed it with him. KING: You then would not recommend any immediate in-depth interview? MESEREAU: I really would not. I think Michael needs to spend time with his children and his family. He needs to savor his victory. He's a very, very grateful, very spiritual person. I think he would like to be left alone, and would like to heal and mend and move forward. KING: They all took off in their cars back to Neverland. Where did you go right after the verdict? MESEREAU: After the verdict, we went to see Judge Melville and his staff to thank them for their very professional behavior towards all of us and then we went to Neverland as well. KING: Indiana, Pennsylvania, hello. CALLER: Hello. My hats off to you, Larry, for your fairness during this thing and to you, Mr. Mesereau. My question is, the media has branded Michael Jackson as a freak and pedophile. How can he recover as the consummate talent he is? KING: Good question. MESEREAU: Well, I think he can recover because Michael is a very resilient person. Yes, he has been a target for many years. He's been maligned. He's been scandalized, but he's also one of the world's greatest artists and one of the world's greatest talents and also one of the world's greatest humanitarians and Michael has all the tools and the skills and the support to recover and go forward and do very well. KING: Do you expect him to return to the stage? MESEREAU: Larry, I'm not an expert on the music industry or the entertainment business, but I know Michael is an artist. He's a creative soul. You can't stifle his creativity and I would not be surprised if he makes a rebound and does it very effectively. KING: Was the family easy to deal with for you? They're such a tight-knit group. MESEREAU: The family was lovely to deal with. They're very, very wonderful people. They were all very supportive of Michael. There were a lot of rumors about dissension that were not true. They were a joy to deal with, a very lovely family. KING: What happened to Raymone Bain? MESEREAU: Well, you know, I worked with Raymone for many months. We worked very effectively together. We had a few differences towards the end, but that happens in big cases, but I have a lot of respect for Raymone, and always enjoyed seeing her and working with her. KING: Why let her out that late in the case, though? MESEREAU: You know, there's some confidential reasons why we had some differences at the end, but they're really insignificant. The fact of the matter is we were a team and we won and she did a very fine job. KING: There's the famous tape of you apparently having an argument with, I guess, Brian Oxman and there was strong -- of course, correspondents went nuts with that tumult in the Jackson defense. What was that about? MESEREAU: I'm not going to talk about that, Larry. I think that's a matter of confidence. Brian was a very hard worker. He has known the Jacksons for a long time. He has given them very effective representation in many areas. We had differences. It happens in big cases when the stakes are high. KING: None of our business? MESEREAU: That's correct. KING: You have said that Michael was a victim of bad advice in the past, that settling past molestation claims led to greed begetting greed. Are you saying he shouldn't have settled anything? MESEREAU: That's correct. I think, looking backwards -- you know, we can all be Monday-morning quarterbacks in life and change things we've done, but I think if Michael could go back, he would never have settled those cases. He would've fought them to the end and the message would have got out, don't make false claims against Michael Jackson or you're going to trial. KING: Oxman still represents -- he told Paula Zahn -- he still represents the family, right? MESEREAU: That's my understanding. I have not talked to Brian since he left the defense team. KING: Are you concerned there might be civil suits against Michael after this? Or does this wash that out? MESEREAU: Well, I think it would be crazy to file a civil suit against Michael, given what happened in this trial. It's always possible. But, if it's done, he will fight it until the end and he will win. KING: His ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, was called by the state. She appeared to help the defense. Do you agree? MESEREAU: Yes, I do. She helped us a lot. KING: Why, then, was she called? MESEREAU: You'll have to ask the prosecutors about that. They wined and dined her at a local restaurant the night before. From what I understand, a lot of pressure was put on her to say what they wanted her to say. When she got on the witness stand, she told the truth and she explained who Michael was and was very effective for us. KING: Anyone you called you regretted? MESEREAU: Not really, Larry. You know, there were a couple of witnesses that didn't pan out exactly as we had hoped, but we did pretty well. We put on a very strong defense after, I think very effectively cross-examining their witnesses. So, we had an extraordinarily large number of good days in this trial. KING: Sometimes defendants are a very important part of their case, sometimes not. Was Michael very involved in the defense? MESEREAU: Yes, he was, but Michael is an artist. He's a musician. He's not a criminal defense lawyer and he was very willing to listen and to do what he was advised was the correct thing, and he was actually a joy to work with. KING: So, in other words, if you had told him, Michael, I think you should take the stand, he would have? MESEREAU: He absolutely would have. In fact, he expected to. KING: We'll be back with more, and more phone calls for Thomas Mesereau on this edition of LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) KING: We're back with Thomas Mesereau. Let's take another call. Glenolden, Pennsylvania, hello. CALLER: Hello, Larry. I'd like to ask Mr. Mesereau if there's a possibility that a malicious prosecution case be filed against the D.A.'s office of Santa Barbara and Mr. Tom Sneddon? MESEREAU: I think it would be warranted but I have not discussed it with Michael Jackson. We just got the verdict, you know, recently. He's now recovering. Nobody has really discussed that issue. But if you ask me... KING: But you think it was malicious? MESEREAU: I do. I think that he was treated in a way that no one else would've been similarly treated. It was because he was a mega-celebrity. Why 70 sheriffs searching Neverland Ranch, based upon what this accuser and his family said, before they'd even investigated the background of the accuser and his family? KING: So, you're saying, if he wanted to, he could bring a malicious prosecution suit, and be successful? MESEREAU: I don't -- I'm not going to say right now what the merits or demerits of the suit would be. That would have to be explored. But do I think this was done maliciously and unfairly? Absolutely. KING: You had a tragedy happen to you during this trial. Your sister died of lung cancer, right? MESEREAU: That's correct. KING: How did that affect this whole thing for you, I mean, emotionally? MESEREAU: Well, it was very difficult emotionally. It happened right as the trial was beginning. Judge Melville gave me some time to handle the funeral and all the things related to that. It was very difficult, but I will say that one of her last messages to me was that she thought we were going to win. And I thought about her throughout the trial, yes. KING: How old was she? MESEREAU: She was 53. KING: She smoked? MESEREAU: Yes, she did. She smoked from the time she was 13, and, unfortunately, it took a toll. KING: Was Michael compassionate about that death? MESEREAU: Michael was not only compassionate; he sent her the most beautiful, the largest bouquet of flowers you've ever seen. He wrote a little poem for her. It came from he and his children. And it was one of the most meaningful and most wonderful things that he could have done for her during her final days. KING: How does he interact with his kids? MESEREAU: Beautifully. He loves his children. They love him. He spends a lot of time with them. He is a loving, doting, caring father. And his children just adore him. KING: Are they well mannered? MESEREAU: Yes, they are. They're wonderful children. I was with them yesterday. KING: When you were doing your pre-trial questioning of Michael, when you have to get into a lot of subjects that are not everyday table conversation, was that hard? When you have to ask your own client, did you do this to this boy? MESEREAU: I'm not going to go into the questions I asked Michael; they're privileged and confidential. KING: Of course, but were they difficult for you? MESEREAU: Frankly, no, because the more I got to know Michael Jackson and the more ridiculous I realized these charges were, and the more of a gentle, charitable, kind-hearted, decent person he is, the less difficulty there was. I mean, he always was a very straightforward, honest, down-to-Earth person to deal with. And the Michael Jackson that I know doesn't even come close to the Michael Jackson they tried to portray. KING: And when you asked... MESEREAU: So he was an easy person to deal with. KING: And when you asked him questions, he answered you directly? MESEREAU: Of course he did. He's very honest and he's very down-to-Earth. If you look at the few interviews he has done, you see a very, very simple, down-to-Earth person who is very honest about who he is, honest about his loneliness, honest about his childhood. He is a very, very decent, kind person and easy to deal with. KING: And trusting? MESEREAU: Too trusting. That's been his downfall. He has trusted the wrong people. He has felt sorry for the wrong people. He has tried to heal the wrong people. And they have turned on him and tried to take advantage of him through the legal system. KING: Will he be tougher? MESEREAU: Yes, he will. We've already had a talk about that. He will, for sure. This was a horrible experience for him, and he's not going to allow people to just run wild through his home, and -- because he feels sorry for them and wants to take care of them and wants to heal them. He has to get much firmer and he will. KING: You said earlier, you let him be him. You didn't tell him what to wear or anything, but the pajama incident that got a lot of press, did that bother you? MESEREAU: Well, but that was not something anybody planned. He had to go to the hospital. He expected to be there for a short period of time. Judge Melville took a very firm position, which he had the right to do, and said, get him here quickly or he was going to issue a bench warrant. So Michael had to run right from the hospital to the courthouse. He complied with Judge Melville's order. That was not something anybody planned or wanted. It just happened. KING: You think it was much ado about nothing? (CROSSTALK) MESEREAU: I agree. Absolutely. KING: So, therefore, you didn't deal with you telling him how to act in court? Sit up, sit this way, do this, do that, wear this, wear that? MESEREAU: No. I wanted Michael Jackson to be who Michael Jackson is. And you know, jurors are smart. They're intuitive. They're instinctive. They know what they're being asked to do to somebody at the counsel table. And you don't want to have your client to do something that is phony or unrealistic. I wanted Michael Jackson to be exactly who he was and is, and be proud of it, and that's what he did. There was nothing phony about our side of the table. There was a lot that was phony about the prosecution's side of the table. KING: Phony? MESEREAU: Yes. KING: Meaning they knew they were doing something that wasn't right? MESEREAU: I don't see how they could not have known that. Look at their conspiracy theory, for example. They were trying to say that Michael Jackson had a financial motive to essentially abduct a family and ship them to Brazil. It was the most ridiculous theory I have ever heard of. I don't know how they did it with a straight face. And it backfired on them, as it should have. KING: We'll be back with more of Thomas Mesereau, some more phone calls, too, on this very interesting hour of LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) KING: We're back. You mentioned earlier how you boosted your client and always tried to be optimistic. But do you have to give -- do you have to talk at all about the possibility of a guilty verdict, tell him what might happen to him? Deal with what might happen? MESEREAU: Well, Larry, you have to be honest with your client at all times. You do have ethical and professional obligations to explain the situation the client is in, but at the same time, you know, if you really believe in your case and you really are optimistic about your chances, you also have to convey that as well. And I was always optimistic about this case once I learned about it, because the more you looked into who these accusers were and who the witnesses the prosecution was going to call were, the more ridiculous everything looked. KING: So, there was no reason to say, Michael, be prepared, you might be in jail tonight? MESEREAU: Well, you never know what a jury is going to do. You don't know those 12 people. They're not personal friends of yours. You don't know what makes them tick. But I always had a good feeling about this jury. I always felt that our case was going in very well. And I always thought the truth would prevail. And I really felt that these jurors were very independent-minded, that nobody was going to push them around, they were going to follow the law and do what's right. KING: Tempe, Arizona, for Tom Mesereau. Hello. CALLER: Hello, Larry, I love your show. KING: Thank you. CALLER: My question is, how do you think the media coverage affected this case, Mr. Mesereau? KING: Yeah. Did it? MESEREAU: Well, ultimately, we had the right result. Justice was served. An innocent man walked free. So, I can't say that, in the long run, the media had the damaging effect that I was worried about at certain points in the trial. The problem I have with the media was they tried to turn it into a circus. They tried to pursue biases and prejudices against Mr. Jackson, because they thought it would generate interest and ratings, and they tried to make a circus out of the case. And to some extent, they did. But in the end, justice prevailed, because this jury was not going to be unduly influenced by other people. They were going to do what was right, and they did. KING: Do you believe, therefore -- do you believe the jury didn't watch television? MESEREAU: I believe they didn't. I believe this jury took Judge Melville's orders very seriously. I believe they took their job very seriously and I believe they were determined not to be unfairly or unduly influenced by anybody. KING: Manillapan, Florida, hello. CALLER: Hi, Mr. King. I love your show. KING: Thank you. CALLER: I'd like to know if Mr. Mesereau could disclose the approximate cost of the defense. MESEREAU: I'm sorry. I didn't totally understand the question. KING: If you could disclose the approximate cost of the defense. MESEREAU: I will not talk about legal fees or cost. That's confidential. KING: What did it cost the state? MESEREAU: It had to have cost them many millions of dollars. I have been told that the board of supervisors of Santa Barbara county has been up in arms about the cost of this case and if you look at the number of sheriffs and investigators and experts and people and prosecutors put on this case, it's absurd. They wouldn't do it in a murder case. They wouldn't do it in a serial killer case, but they did it because Michael Jackson is a superstar and they wanted to take a superstar down. KING: How important was your investigator, Scott Ross? MESEREAU: He was extremely important. Scott Ross did a fabulous job, as did Jesus Castillo, our second investigator. They were critical to our defense. They were relentless. They were professional. They dug up the facts. They found the witnesses. They got them to court. These guys were just terrific. KING: Do you use your team a lot, Tom? Did other lawyers work with you? MESEREAU: Yes. My co-counsel and law partner, Susan Yu, was absolutely essential to this defense. She was tireless in the way she put the evidence together, the way she assisted me in preparation. Bob Sanger, my co-counsel from Santa Barbara was an unbelievably effective lawyer. He was a trial lawyer in the trial court. He argued in the appellate courts. He did law in motion. He knew the local procedures and system. We had a lot of assistants helping us out in his office and my office and it was a great team effort and it succeeded. KING: And, we'll be back with some more moments with Thomas Mesereau, ask about him, his future. Don't go away. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) KING: One more call. Gainesville, Georgia, hello. CALLER: Yes. I'd like to ask Mr. Mesereau if he believes that Tom Sneddon is responsible for the grand jury testimony being leaked to the press. MESEREAU: I don't know if Tom Sneddon is personally responsible for that, but certainly somebody in the prosecution side, it would appear, was responsible and when I say prosecution side, I'm including the sheriff's department. As you know, those transcripts were leaked just as the trial was beginning, and it's my belief they were leaked to try and prejudice the entire process. Do I know that Tom Sneddon did it personally? I do not have any understanding of that, but I think somebody who favored the prosecution did it. That's my belief. KING: You said Michael's going to stay at Neverland? MESEREAU: I don't know the answer to that, Larry. We just haven't had a chance to talk about his future very much. KING: He's got such an interest in kids. Do you think he'll still have some come over? Or are you going to advise him against... MESEREAU: Again, well, I really haven't talked to Michael very much about the future. I do know, as we said before, that he has to get a lot tougher with who he lets into his life and who he feels sorry for and who he wants to heal and help because he's a real target. KING: We'll ask his brothers tomorrow. One other thing I didn't cover. Were you surprised -- I know you left the case -- were you surprised at the Robert Blake verdict? MESEREAU: No, I was not. As you may recall, I did the three- week preliminary hearing in that case. KING: I remember. MESEREAU: I thought the case was full of holes and full of problems. KING: You told me that. MESEREAU: I was not surprised at all. KING: You told me then you thought he would win. MESEREAU: Yes. KING: Sorry you left it? MESEREAU: No. You know, life goes on. We had a falling out and those things happen in the high-pressure world of criminal defense. But he hired a very, very excellent lawyer who did a very excellent job and he's free. KING: Interesting thing about Thomas Mesereau, born in West Point, father, lieutenant colonel; worked for his in-laws restaurant business, Mama Leone's, one of the most successful restaurants ever in America, famous in New York; was an amateur boxer; and represented defendants in death penalty cases in the south, pro bono, didn't charge; gives free legal assistance through the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in L.A. -- were you glad about that apology yesterday, for slavery and (INAUDIBLE) hangings? MESEREAU: Well, what -- you know, Larry, yesterday was a wild day. Which apology... KING: The Senate -- the Senate apologized for the treatment in the past of the American black. MESEREAU: I'm absolutely in favor of that, if that's the way it was done and it was articulated properly, I am absolutely behind that. KING: Are you looking forward to a lot more criminal cases? I mean, you're famous, widespread now. You know, it's obvious you're going to get a lot of calls. Are you ready for an onslaught of new business? MESEREAU: No, I'm ready to get some sleep. KING: But you seriously know you're going to get a lot of attention now? MESEREAU: I'm sure I will, and, you know, I'll take it as it comes. I have strong views about my profession. I love what I do. I have a strong belief in civil rights and in making sure our justice system works and we'll just move forward. I feel very blessed by god to have been in the case. KING: How many partners in your firm? MESEREAU: Just four partners. It's a small firm. KING: Might you expand? MESEREAU: I don't know. We'll have to take it as it comes. I don't have any plans, other than to get some sleep, see my family and friends and move forward. KING: Take a vacation for a while? MESEREAU: I could definitely use one, yes. KING: Thomas, thank you so much for a very informative hour. I appreciate you giving us an hour. We know how tired you are. MESEREAU: Well, thank you for having me. KING: Thomas Mesereau, very successful defense attorney, quite a career, quite a life, quite a story. Source: CNN |
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Leno Interviews Thomas Mesereau Jr. on the Tonight Show
Leno: First off, thank you so much for coming. We ah, we kinda play different roles in these things - I'm a comedian and my job is obviously to make light of all this, you're of course a defense attorney...to take it all very seriously. You know, the Michael, sort of, we see, is obviously different from the one you knew. Tell us - we all know the one we know - tell us about the one you know. Mez: The Michael Jackson I know is a very sensitive, honest, down to earth, kind-hearted person, much more simple in his tastes than you probably think, very kind-hearted, loves people, loves to help people who are in trouble, he's too nice to too many people and that's how he got in the trouble he was in. But he's one of my favourite human beings, he's misunderstood, and one of my jobs in the trial was to make sure the jury knew who he was and I think they did and that's why they acquitted him of every count. Leno: Now, you refer to him and you make this point of innocence versus not guilty. Mez: ...yes. Leno: .explain. Mez: Well, he's innocent of these charges. And Michael is the kind of person, when you sit down with him and get to know him, and hear his philosophy of life and what he wants to achieve in life, you realize that he could never hurt a child and he never has hurt a child. Now, thousands and thousands of children and their parents have flocked to Michael Jackson all over the world; a couple suddenly invented some claims and wanted money, and he made a mistake in the early 90's of paying them money to get rid of them. And it was really insignificant money giving what he was making, he's probably grossed over a billion dollars in his life, and all of his business advisors are saying Michael, you've got bigger fish to fry, just pay whatever it takes, get rid of these cases. Unfortunately, once he did that, others thought they could get an easy payday as well, and hence he got in this kind of trouble. Leno: Do you believe in all of your clients, is that an important part of your defense? Do you personally have to believe or can you defend someone you don't quite believe, but maybe the letter of the law has been violated - Mez: There are two major purposes that I have in my profession - one is to make sure that innocent people like Michael Jackson are not convicted, and two is to make sure this system works so prosecutors and cops don't abuse their power because if you let them do it they will routinely do it, and they have throughout American history. Leno: Now does it bother you that, I think, only 34% of the public did not believe the verdict? Mez: It does bother me, because it's a result of spin from the media and not knowing the evidence - if you really look at the evidence in the case, they had nothing. They had absolutely nothing. And networks like court TV do their best to spin a conviction, but you can't spin a conviction, you have to have evidence to support it, the evidence wasn't there. Leno: Let me ask about the jury for a second, I know you were instrumental in picking the jury, and again I've been told this, that Michael was quite concerned that there were no African Americans on there, I mean literally like - what's going on here. Mez: Well, Michaels from a prominent African American family and as you would expect he was hoping to have some African American representation on the jury. But I have to tell you, once this jury was picked, I had no problem with this jury - I thought they were very strong willed, independent minded people, smart, nobody was going to push them around and they were going to follow the law and do the right thing - and that's exactly what they did. Leno: So, how do you pick a juror? I mean, what do you look for in a case like - cause I have to admit, watching from the sidelines - this ones a parent, 3 children, this ones a - postal worker possibly - this seems pretty conservative, a little out of the mainstream, not Hollywood kind of wacky - Mez: I wasn't worried about conservative people, Santa Maria is a conservative community, the communities around Santa Maria are conservative. What I wanted were people who I thought were strong willed, independent minded, and open to look at the evidence, and not be hood-wanked or influenced by outside forces, which were trying to basically spin the case in a way that wasn't realistic. We got some very honourable, courageous people, and they did the right thing. Leno: Did it bother you that some of the jurors came out afterwards and said they think he might have been guilty of something in the past, but couldn't prove it this time? Mez: Well, they think he might have been - that's like saying, we suspect it but nothing's ever been proven - because nothing was proven. The prosecution, in an act of desperation, tried to say he molested people in the past. They mentioned 3 young men, one of whom was Macaulay Culkin, and said nothing ever happened to us, we were not molested. They mentioned a fourth person who never showed up, and they mentioned a fifth person who showed up and said I was tickled improperly and I wanted money and I took it, after denying that it had happened - his mother took money, and she also sold the story to a tabloid. Leno: We never heard that there were any young girls there, I mean we hear of children going to neverland, but it all seems to be boys - Mez: False. Absolutely false. Leno: - okay. Mez: Women testified that they stayed in his room, which - and by the way, his room is a two story duplex, a huge duplex, that's what we call his room - and women stayed there, mothers stayed there, parents stayed there, kids stayed there. And any time a child came up to him and said we want to play in your room, which he has arcade games and that kind of thing, he always said I want your parents here right now and I want their permission. And the parents were free to stay - and we had parents testify who did stay. So a lot of this was spin by the prosecution because they wanted to try and convict him through spin. They had nothing to deal with in the courtroom. Leno: Is he childlike? I mean, it's almost hard for me to believe that you can be such a polished entertainer - I mean, when you spend time with him, is it like spending time with a child? Mez: He is childlike. And he's been very vocal when interviewed about why he's childlike. He had no childhood - he was working clubs at 3 in the morning when he was a very small child - he said he used to gaze at school yards and wonder what it was like to be just a spontaneous kid. He couldn't do that, he was disciplined very strictly, and he feels as if he never really had a free and spontaneous childhood. And he also, he feels as if he's been let down by adults most of his life. He was a child asked to sign papers, he didn't know what money was, all this money was spinning around him - he got taken advantage of, and he has an empathy for children because he thinks children need more attention in the world. He's helped kids with AIDs around the planet, he's helped kids with all sorts of diseased - Ryan White, a young man that had AIDs and died of it, he took care of him. When a little child in the early 80's was doused with gasoline by his father in orange county Michael paid his bills, he's paid bills for injured children all over the world. A lot of this the prosecution tried to bury, because they wanted to make him look like a monster - and they failed. Leno: When that documentary came out, and Michael said about sharing your bed and that type of thing, what should the prosecution have done? I mean, when people say, lets say I live in a neighbourhood and I know there's a 45 year old man over there, I see young boys going in and out or children going in and out, and I hear rumours of alcohol, rumours of pornography, locks on the doors - should they not have investigated? Mez: Well first of all, what he said in the documentary was I gave this child my bed and I slept on the floor, and I've never done anything sexual with a child - that's in the documentary. There are also some outtakes that were not included in the documentary where he even expanded on that - he said I would slit my wrists before I would hurt a child. Okay, so the prosecution tried to spin this so that you didn't know that's in the documentary. The second thing is, yes, if you think there is a valid claim of child molestation, you should investigate - and they did. 70 officers raided neverland, they couldn't find any forensic evidence to support the claims - no DNA, no hair, no fibre, no fluids, nothing. Leno: Is that uncommon? I mean is.I'll tell you what, we'll take a break and follow up on this. ---- Leno: Welcome back, talking with tom Mesereau the lead defense attorney in the Michael Jackson trial. It's fascinating to hear your side of it, we were just talking about DNA evidence and you mention when they went to the neverland ranch they found not a trace of DNA evidence - no fluids, no hair, is that - I mean, people who are pedophiles, is that common that they would be very careful or no? Mez: Well, I mean I don't know what the answer to that is, but certainly they do find in this day and age, DNA - it's an easy thing to find, and it lasts for hundreds of years - so it's significant they couldn't find any forensic evidence whatsoever to prove this crime, because the crime didn't happen. Leno: Let me ask you about the jury - I was sort of stunned to hear the jury was not sequestered. Because this is all anybody talks about - if I'm on the jury and I walk into McDonalds or anywhere, someone's going to go hey - you're going to hear something - it's on every TV it's on every radio, you hear jokes - you hear information that maybe they shouldn't be privy too. Weren't you worried about that? Mez: I really wasn't. The judge was a very very good judge; he had the full respect of the jury I could tell. And he told them very clearly you cannot listen to any media, you cannot expose yourself to any outside influence, you must follow the law and look at the evidence in the court room. And in my opinion, sequestered juries tend to be uncomfortable juries - you know, they're confined, they have limitations, people are watching them, generally I don't like it. And I really had a feeling they'd be fair, and they were. Leno: The media circus - were you surprised at the extent of people hiding in the bushes, seeing whether you put two sugars in your coffee and this type of thing - Mez: No, I wasn't surprised, I expected that. This has real international interest. Michael is a mega star, he is popular all over the world, and we had support all over the world for our side, so I'm not surprised. Leno: Now, they're not allowed to watch the pundits, but you - when you go home - would you turn on and see what some of the experts were saying? Mez: Once in a while - I was working very hard, you know normally I read three newspapers a day, and I wasn't reading any except on the weekends. So once and a while for a break I would, and generally I was pretty unimpressed. Leno: Were they accurate? Mez: Generally no. Leno: Agenda? Did they have an agenda-? Mez: Oh, take court TV for example. I'd always been a fan of court TV; I'd always respected court TV, particularly when Steve Brill was running it. In this particular case, in my opinion they became a tabloid - they had their own agenda, they misstated the facts, they didn't understand the significance of what was going on in the courtroom, and that's why their major critics were stunned by the verdict, and why now they're trying to say there's something wrong with jury, there's something wrong with the system - they were humiliated because they never really understood what was going on in the courtroom. Leno: Now, the district attorney, Sneddon, is he a fair guy? Mez: In my opinion, no. In this particular case, he had a personal vendetta against Michael Jackson, he wasn't objective, he saw things that didn't exist - when you're not objective, when you're too personally involved, you can really mischaracterize your case, and he mischaracterized his case from day one. Leno: I mean, was he - because of the events from ten years ago? Mez: You know, I don't know exactly why he got so interested in Michael Jackson, but.he flew to Australia at one point in the mid-nineties to try and find an alleged victim, and the person said take a hike, get out of here. He had a website at the sheriffs department to try and see if he could find witnesses to build a case - it was like an open casting call on Michael Jackson. And the best they could come up with was this family that we thoroughly discredited from A to Z. From A to Z. Leno: Now, have you talked to Michael since the verdict? Mez: Oh sure. Leno: And how's he doing? Mez: He's very drained, physically and emotionally. He was dehydrated, he had trouble eating and sleeping, he's going to have to spend time recovering. Leno: Let me ask you a question, and this is something I saw people speculate on - every time it seemed like the trial was going one way or the other, he would go to the hospital. And - I don't mean this to be flippant - but, there's the umbrella guy, there's the magician, why isn't there a doctor with him all the time? Why would he have to get up -? Small audience laughter ..No, I'm not being a wise guy, it seems like in the middle of the night he would be taken to the hospital - it seems like he could have a staff of physicians there. Mez: I haven't asked that question, he has had personal physicians in the past. He didn't intend to take these trips to the hospital, he had legitimate physical problems. I mean, he has a very serious back problem, and he really had emotional problems - he had trouble eating and sleeping - Michael was not emotionally built for this kind of a process - month after month of sitting in a court room listening to all this nonsense thrown at you, knowing your life and your freedom are on the line. It was a very hard process for him emotionally. Leno: Now, I know a lot of people have been critical of you, but I know you do an awful lot of pro bono work - terrific, within different communities, and that - is that why you took this, you saw it as injustice? Mez: I saw it as tremendous injustice. I had known randy Jackson for a long time, he's a good friend of mine - he asked me if I would talk to Michael about his case, and I flew to Florida, met Michael and talked to him extensively about it. And I just, very quickly - and I'm a very intuitive person - I said, this cannot be the monster they're portraying. What is this? Because what they were saying was, that this kid had cancer and that he intentionally plied him with alcohol so he could molest him, and you get to know Michael and you say this is absurd. They're also saying he masterminded a conspiracy to abduct a family to Brazil - Michael Jackson wouldn't even know how to conceive of such a thing. Michael Jackson is an artist - he's a creative spirit - he likes to sit in a tree and compose music, and he freely says that. You know. Leno: That's where my part comes in, sitting in the tree. I have to do the sitting in the tree stuff. Small laughter Mez: Well he loves climbing trees - he says other people like football and baseball, I like climbing trees. He freely admits that. Mez smiling Leno: Well Tom, I appreciate you coming here and telling us your side of the story - thank you very much. |
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Tuesday, June 28 2005 Statement of Michael Jackson: A Message For My Fans
Created: Sunday, 26 June 2005 Without God, my children, my family and you, my fans, I could not have made it through. Your love, support and loyalty made it all possible. You were there when I really needed you. I will never forget you. Your ever-present love held me, dried my tears, and carried me through. I will treasure your devotion and support forever. You are my inspiration. Love, Michael Jackson Source:www.mjjsource.com |
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After June 13,when Michael won his molestation case,he steped back from the public eye.It is known that he took a vacation in Bahrain where he was invited by the royal family . In this time his layers tried to make the prosecutors return the items the police took from Neverland.After a lot of discussions the D.A. was forced to give back the books ,magasines and other things confiscated in the '93 and 2003 raids in the singer house.Sneddon told the court he was concerned about returning various adult magazines seized from Neverland, as the items had undergone a chemical fingerprinting process. "They bear a seal on the binder that say they are toxic," he said. "I believe there should be some kind of a release signed by Mr. Jackson ... if he or one of his children has a toxic reaction to one of those materials." So much care,no? But he didn't want to return the photos showing Michael naked that the police requested in the '93 investigation.Sneddon said that the pictures don't belong to Michael so the sheriff will keep them. Michael and the defense consider the photos a threat because they can be leaked to the media in any moment (remember the Grand Jury transcripts?). Trial costs taxpayers very very much. The taxpayer bill for the trial has reached a staggering $3 million and is still climbing. In new Orleans started a civil case against Michael.The singer missed the first hearing.The judge wasn't pleased.A 40 year old man accused Michael of abuse in '84.What the media didn't say is that this man was convicted of sexual harassment and that he accused a priest of abuse a couple years ago too.It is hard to believe that he remembered this exactly now,no? |
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July |
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Dupri says Michael Jackson shouldn't be humble about acquittal Associated Press NEW YORK - If Michael Jackson took Jermaine Dupri's advice, he'd be on TV flaunting his acquittal instead of retreating from the public eye. "I was him, I would have gone on `TRL' immediately and said look, `Everybody who wanna say something about me, good, y'all could say whatever y'all wanna say, there's nothing you can say about me at this point, no more than what just happened," said Dupri, who is based in Atlanta and is dating Jackson's sister Janet. Jackson was acquitted in June on child molestation charges. While other scandal-plagued stars have launched the comeback route with a teary-eyed interview with Oprah Winfrey or Barbara Walters, Dupri scoffed at the suggestion that Jackson should be remorseful. "He don't have to do that, because he didn't do nothing wrong. Everybody else did something wrong but him. What did he do wrong? Why should he come back and cry?" Dupri asked. And though some have doubted whether the pop star could make a successful comeback, Dupri says Jackson has a magical quality that will always keep people interested. "If Michael Jackson came in this room right now, there would be no one in this room who could not stop looking at him. As long as you've got that power, you're never damaged," Dupri told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "He has that power over anybody. If people can't stop looking at you, you're so interesting to people, there's no way you can be damaged." Source:www.mjeol.com |
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According to published and broadcast reports, the two flip-flopping jurors, Cook and Hultman, are claiming Jackson is really guilty of something - after voting for acquittal.And just in time for their upcoming books. That third juror, Katharina Carls, apparently says she believed the Arvizo liar but not beyond a reasonable doubt. Well which story does she believe? The one he told the shrink Stan Katz? The one he told the police? Or the one he told on the stand?? Thank goodness not all of the Jackson jurors were as undecided. Of course, these opinions are held in the face of absolutely no evidence presented to them pointing towards guilt. What's worse is that at least one of these two possible opportunists, Cook, was allegedly engaged in major misconduct during her stint on the jury.She tried to bring in a medical book to convince jurors that Jackson fit the profile of a pedophile. There are also claims that someone smuggled in a videotape of a broadcast of Court TV's trial coverage to sway the jury. There is suppose to be a 90 day waiting period before jurors can engage in acts to make money from their jury stints. Apparently these two jurors could be violating that rule as well. We need clearly to send a message of intolerance toward this lack of personal integrity so that jurors throughout the country realize the oath they swear is not to be taken lightly. The officials who prosecuted Michael Jackson when they conscientiously believed the evidence warranted an indictment ought now to prosecute jurors who, by their own free admission, are guilty of a crime . Even Sneddon was hesitant to comment."I've moved on," Sneddon said. "It doesn't do us any good now." "The bottom line is it makes no difference what they're saying," Thomas Mesereau Jr. told The Associated Press, pointing out the jurors announced their turnaround Monday as they began publicizing book deals. "Twelve people deliberated and out of that process justice is supposed to result. Now, two months later, these jurors are changing their tunes. They clearly like being on TV," Mesereau said. "I'm very suspicious." |
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August |
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Los Angeles County prosecutors today filed five felony charges of welfare fraud and perjury against the mother of Michael Jackson's teenage accuser, the woman whose credibility was at the center of the pop star's acquittal on child molestation charges.
Prosecutors allege that Janet Arvizo received more than $18,000 in welfare benefits illegally by failing to disclose that she and her family had received thousands of dollars in the settlement of a civil lawsuit. Arvizo could be facing several years in prison if found guilty. A Judge fined pop icon Michael Jackson $10,000 Wednesday for failing to be represented at a previous hearing in a federal civil case. Judge Eldon Fallon ordered the singer to pay the fine after neither Jackson nor his attorney had appeared for the July procedural hearing in a case where he is accused of sexual assault during the 1984 World's Fair. Jackson's attorney, Charles Gay, told the Judge that the summons for the missed court date had been lost during the confusion of Jackson's trial in Santa Maria. The summons had arrived on June 13, the day the singer was vindicated by the jury. "I would like to point out that June 13 was probably the most anxious day of Michael Jackson's life," Gay said. Gay told the Judge that Jackson had not been eating or sleeping during this time and was worried about his and his children's futures. Judge Fallon said it would be inappropriate to fine Jackson for contempt, but levied other fines related to court costs. Michael Jackson, the king of pop, has been wowing his fans in Dubai and has pledged his first visit definitely will not be his last. Ben Sulayem yesterday told Gulf News Jackson was "a gentleman" who charmed all who met him including the many fans with whom he has posed for pictures. "Everybody knew who he was and he was so nice to them all. He had the time to talk and take pictures and shake hands. "We said to him: Please Michael, we have to go, but he carried on. He was incredibly polite. "We know all about his music and his incredible career, but not many people realise what a genuinely nice person he is. He's very pleasant to be with. He's a gentleman," he said."I've met guys who weren't even 10 percent as famous as he is, and they are much harder to deal with than Michael." Contrary to Jackson's reputation for eccentricity...Ben Sulayem said the chart star was normal and down-to-earth. Those accompanying the singer said he made no complaints about the heat despite visiting during August. Tabloid reporter Diane Dimond has gotten the boot from Court TV. And happy birthday Michael!!! |
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"Dear You, Have you ever noticed that every love song contains the word "you"? Like, for example: "Oh, How Happy You Have Made Me"; "Can I See You In The Morning" or "The Love You Save". So, that's why I thought it would be allright to start this love letter to you with "Dear You". If it works in songs of love, it ought to be right on for letters of love, too, don't you agree? Of course, there's another reason, too. I don't know your name. Chances are we have never met. And maybe you are just starting to really get to know me through the pages and pictures here in "TcB" . You're luckier than I am. I don't even get to know the first thing about you, the girl I'm hoping to find someday...some how...some way...I can't even be sure you're reading this. But I won't lose hope. I will never stop looking for your face in every audience I see before me, in every eager fan who waves and smiles at me. I'll be waiting for you, baby. Will you wait, too? I'll be there... Michael.(from TcB magazine, Michael, aged 13, I believe). |
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September |
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Pop star Michael Jackson is to record his song to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in Bahrain and the US. The project, From the Gulf to the Gulf, is an initiative of 2 Seas Records, a joint venture between Southern Governor Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Jackson's brother Jermaine. More than 20 top artists will take part in the recording of the song, with the working title From the Bottom of My Heart. Michael Jackson is pleased to announce that Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, R. Kelly, Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, Lauren Hill, Mary J. Blidge, Yolanda Adams, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, James Brown, Snoop Dogg , the O'Jays, and Ciara, are among the artists joining in his hurricane relief song. In a telephone call to The Associated Press, Jackson said the trial was "the hardest thing I've ever done in my life" and that he and his children were still in Bahrain "resting and recovering" from the ordeal. Jackson said he has been at work on the charity song, tentatively titled, "From the Bottom of My Heart." "I'm constantly working on it," he said. Asked about his health, Jackson said, "I'm feeling good." |
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October |
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Lawyers for Michael Jackson filed a lawsuit on Monday against German concert promoter Marcel Avram - legal action designed to thwart an arbitration hearing scheduled for later this month. Jackson's suit is just the latest chapter in an ongoing legal saga more than five years in the making. Back in 2003, a Santa Monica, California, jury awarded Avram $5.3 million in lost profits for the Jackson gigs that never happened .Jackson and Avram reached a settlement agreement that same year which resolved all existing claims associated with the nixed concerts and shut the door to future lawsuits. Lingering disputes that arose in the wake of the settlement were supposed to be resolved in Superior Court, as provided in the agreement. Avram instead moved for arbitration.In arbitration hearings, each side presents evidence before a panel of mediators that renders a written decision .the panel's final decision could cost Jackson even more money.
The months after Michael Jackson's acquittal have brought many interesting developments concerning those who schemed against him. Sneddon could be in a world of trouble related to a $10 million federal lawsuit filed against him and his office by attorney Gary Dunlap. Dunlap was prosecuted by Sneddon and was acquitted on all felony charges.He is suing the Santa Barbara DA's office for engaging in outrageous misconduct, including "conspiracy, illegal taping, deceiving a court" and "illegally assisting the defense of a case". The judge in the Dulap case had already made her decision and the DA's office tried to get her to illegally change it. Hultman,one of the juror, is currently suing Garrison to get out of that book deal. He claims he was unsophisticated and was taken advantage of by Garrison. Yeah, right.He alleges Brown - who was supposed to write the book at first - plagiarized garbage..uh, I mean. plagiarized "material" from a defamatory Vanity Fair article written by "Wacko Orth" (Maureen Orth). Janet Arvizo has been charged with defrauding the welfare system in Los Angeles County.Arvizo actually had the gall to plead not guilty. Prosecutor Ron Zonen, one of Sneddon's minions, is also in boiling water with the law concerning the Jesse James Hollywood murder case. Zonen is one of the prosecutors whose disgustingly ridiculous characterizations of Jackson were lapped up and distributed by the media. According to reports, Zonen broke the law; committing a misdemeanor by sharing confidential information about Hollywood with the creators of a movie about Hollywood. Ex-bodyguard Chris Carter is also in deep, deep trouble with the law.Carter is currently awaiting trial for committing a number of robberies in the Las Vegas area. When Jackson flew to Santa Barbara County to answer the arrest warrant Sneddon obtained back in November 2003, the private jet he flew on was bugged with recording equipment.Now, two men have been indicted on federal charges of recording Jackson and then-attorney Mark Geragos on that flight. Then there's tabloid reporter Diane Dimond.She was fired after the trial for her really "good" job. |
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Michael has been spotted in the Dorchester Hotel, London, meeting fans and posing for photographs. It is believed this is the first time the artist has been in the UK since he was cleared of 10 charges of child abuse and plying a minor with alcohol in June. He is believed to be recording a charity song, From The Bottom Of My Heart, for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Michael sat at the back of the stalls with his children for the musical Billy Elliot at the West End's Victoria Palace theatre friday afternoon. And during the interval, he mingled with members of the audience - chatting and signing autographs. Roxanne Wisenberg, 47, from San Diego, was one of those people to meet the singer during the interval. "He talked to us saying hello and there were a lot of people around him," she said. "He was very nice and his children were with him." But chaotic scenes followed as Jackson left the theatre and greeted screaming fans. The scenes echoed similar ones at the Dorchester earlier in the day when Jackson had to abandon plans to exit through the front of the hotel. Pop legend Michael Jackson pleased the tourists in London for the second day running and caused pandemonium at Madame Tussaud's on Sunday evening. The controversial singer was mobbed by fans at the world-famous attraction when he arrived with his three children. Large numbers of staff from Madame Tussaud's were waiting inside the attraction to greet the singer. Seven-year-old Katherine, her head and face covered by a green scarf, walked hand-in-hand with her father as they toured the venue. Michael looked very good and he seams very happy:-) The astonishing furore that surrounds Jackson, 47, proves his fans are as devoted as ever. Crowds surge outside the Dorchester hotel, where he is staying, day and night. Chanting his name and waving banners, the crowd - mostly in their twenties and thirties plus some children - hoped for a glimpse of Jackson. They were finally rewarded when he appeared at his suite window and waved. Minutes later, a bulk delivery of pizzas arrived outside, ordered by the singer for his fans. There were chaotic scenes inside and outside Harrods last night when Jackson and his three children-arrived. He was mobbed by fans in the DVD department where he bought dozens of documentaries including the BBC's award-winning series Walking With Dinosaurs. He met Harrods owner, Mohamed Fayed, and shopped in private for two hours.
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November |
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Michael Jackson, the world's most famous criminal defendant, recently received a jury summons at his Neverland Valley Ranch. But it seems unlikely that Mr. Jackson, who now lives in Bahrain, will become the world's most famous juror. "He is permanently living outside of the United States," said Thomas Mesereau, who defended the singer in his recent child molestation trial. To avoid any penalty for being a no-show for jury duty, Mr. Jackson's lawyers have filed the necessary paperwork for a deferment. That doesn't dampen speculation about the scene that would ensue if Mr. Jackson showed up for jury duty. "I'm sure he'd receive a warm welcome from the District Attorney's Office," joked Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola School of Law. People who deliberately avoid their civic duty may be found in contempt, fined up to $1,500 or even jailed. However, Jury Commissioner Gary Blair said it appears Mr. Jackson will be in the clear. "All he has to do is show he has legal residency somewhere else and he'll be exempted. Ms. Levenson noted: "It's just one of those ironies of life that he'd be called as a juror. But on a more serious note, if I were a criminal defendant, I'd welcome him with open arms. "He's been through the system, and I'm sure he appreciates the presumption of innocence more than any other person who might be called for jury service."
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Ending the controversy over whether the King of Pop is indeed in Dubai, Michael Jackson turned up in the flesh to give away awards for the world renowned Dubai Desert Rally racing tournament on Monday night.
Superstar Michael Jackson has not bought an island estate off Bahrain, isn't selling his California haven Neverland Ranch and is not recording songs with his children, his spokeswoman said Tuesday. Bain also dismissed a bizarre report that the...star had been spotted applying his make-up in a ladies' lavatory in a Dubai shopping mall, saying he had accidentally walked into the wrong bathroom but immediately turned around and walked out."Upon his exit, he was recognized and a crowd ensued. He had to wait in a nearby bookstore until police arrived to escort him through the crowd," she added. |
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December |
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