Post by Emerald City on Mar 28, 2005 15:54:25 GMT -5
The judge in Michael Jackson's molestation trial will decide Monday (March 28) whether or not the prosecution can bring up unrelated, prior allegations of sexual abuse against the pop star. If Judge Rodney Melville allows the evidence, the prosecution may bring up a 1993 case where a then-13-year-old boy accused Jackson of abuse and then settled for a reported sum of over $20 million. The boy, who is now in his 20s, may be subpoenaed to testify in the current trial if the judge allows the prior allegations. No criminal charges were brought against Jackson in the 1993 case.
Close observers of the current case say that today's decision could severely alter the course of the trial. Testimony of the accuser and his siblings contradicted their earlier statements to authorities and the grand jury, plus the prosecution has little physical evidence. Allowing the prior allegations could significantly bolster the prosecution's case.
Jackson appeared on Reverend Jesse L. Jackson's radio program, Keep Hope Alive, Sunday (March 27), where he told listeners that he is determined to fight all charges against him. According to CNN, Jackson said: "I gain strength from God...and I gain strength from the fact that I know that I am innocent. None of these stories are true. They are totally fabricated." The pop star went on to say, "I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior, and I know what is inside of me. I'm a fighter, but it's very painful at the end of the day. I'm still human, you know. I'm still a human being, so it does hurt very, very, very much.""
In Friday's proceedings, employees of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office took the stand to talk about the process used to collect fingerprint evidence. Reuters reports that the jurors and even the judge appeared bored during the highly technical testimony. A retired sheriff reported that only one of the magazines seized at Jackson's ranch contained prints of both the pop star and his accuser.
The prosecution is attempting to prove that Jackson showed the accuser pornography in order to seduce him. Defense lawyers suggest that the boy's fingerprints could be from when he handled the magazines after allegedly going through Jackson's belongings, or when the magazines were presented as evidence in the grand jury hearings.
In other news, Jackson attorney Brian Oxman, who collapsed during the trial Wednesday and was diagnosed with a lung infection, was back in court on Friday.
Jackson is accused of molesting a then-13-year-old boy at his Neverland Ranch in 2003, giving the boy alcohol in order to seduce him, and conspiring to hold the boy and his family captive. He faces 10 felony counts that could result in 20 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Close observers of the current case say that today's decision could severely alter the course of the trial. Testimony of the accuser and his siblings contradicted their earlier statements to authorities and the grand jury, plus the prosecution has little physical evidence. Allowing the prior allegations could significantly bolster the prosecution's case.
Jackson appeared on Reverend Jesse L. Jackson's radio program, Keep Hope Alive, Sunday (March 27), where he told listeners that he is determined to fight all charges against him. According to CNN, Jackson said: "I gain strength from God...and I gain strength from the fact that I know that I am innocent. None of these stories are true. They are totally fabricated." The pop star went on to say, "I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior, and I know what is inside of me. I'm a fighter, but it's very painful at the end of the day. I'm still human, you know. I'm still a human being, so it does hurt very, very, very much.""
In Friday's proceedings, employees of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office took the stand to talk about the process used to collect fingerprint evidence. Reuters reports that the jurors and even the judge appeared bored during the highly technical testimony. A retired sheriff reported that only one of the magazines seized at Jackson's ranch contained prints of both the pop star and his accuser.
The prosecution is attempting to prove that Jackson showed the accuser pornography in order to seduce him. Defense lawyers suggest that the boy's fingerprints could be from when he handled the magazines after allegedly going through Jackson's belongings, or when the magazines were presented as evidence in the grand jury hearings.
In other news, Jackson attorney Brian Oxman, who collapsed during the trial Wednesday and was diagnosed with a lung infection, was back in court on Friday.
Jackson is accused of molesting a then-13-year-old boy at his Neverland Ranch in 2003, giving the boy alcohol in order to seduce him, and conspiring to hold the boy and his family captive. He faces 10 felony counts that could result in 20 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
