Post by Emerald City on Dec 12, 2004 14:37:40 GMT -5
By Jeff Wilson
Fingerprints belonging to both Michael Jackson and the boy accusing him of child molestation were found on pornographic magazines seized from Jackson's Neverland ranch last year, the Santa Barbara News-Press reported Saturday, citing sources it did not identify.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Chris Pappas did not immediately return a call Saturday from The Associated Press. Jackson's attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr., declined to comment.
The prosecution and defense are prohibited by a court-imposed gag order from discussing the case.
If the reported evidence is admitted during Jackson's trial, prosecutors would be expected to argue that the fingerprints were proof that Jackson showed the boy pornographic literature before molesting him. But the defense could question whether the entertainer knew the boy had been leafing through the magazines.
According to the newspaper, the boy and his brother often visited Neverland when Jackson wasn't home.
The newspaper did not describe the magazines' contents except to say they contained pornography.
Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville is expected to decide next month what evidence can be admitted at trial, scheduled to begin Jan. 31.
Jackson, 46, has pleaded not guilty to charges of child molestation, conspiracy and administering an intoxicating agent, alcohol, to his alleged victim.
Investigators most recently searched Jackson's Neverland home on Dec. 3 and 4, and on Dec. 4 the entertainer voluntarily gave them a DNA sample at their request. Investigators first searched the home on Nov. 18, 2003, shortly before Jackson was charged.
