It seems that Michael Jackson's court appearance in Santa Maria on Friday was more restrained than the one in January.
Michael Jackson pleaded not guilty to the child molestation and conspiracy indictments.
The judge revealed that the grand jurors had expanded the charges originally filed by District Attorney Tom Sneddon in December. The charges now include allegations that Michael Jackson conspired to attempt child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.
Michael Jackson avoided moonwalking on a SUV this time. Instead he thanked fans for their support, and then left.
The fans, possibly sensing that things are getting serious, were well behaved and supportive.
Jackson toned down his wardrobe for this court appearance. He wore a black velvet suit with a crest on the breast pocket, and a red armband on his right arm, complimented by a red tie.
If he is convicted, then Michael Jackson could face up to 30 years in jail.
Many of the charges have had to be sealed; as if placed in the public domain they would contaminate the jury pool.
The question is, how will it be possible to find a jury that has not already been "contaminated" one way or another by the media coverage.
The nature of the charges are such that others may also be charged.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Friday, April 30, 2004
The Circus is Coming to Town
Just hours to go, as I write this, until Michael Jackson appears in court; in respect of the charges brought against him for child molestation.
The details of the grand jury indictment will be made public for the first time. It is possible that they may add to, or remove, some of the original charges.
The Santa Maria Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and Santa Barbara Superior Court are going to erect almost 1000 feet of fencing and barricades to control the crowds; which are expected to be huge (up to 2500).
Fans will be bused in from Los Angeles, starting at 4:00AM; they are being charged $20 per ticket.
It is hoped, by the local law enforcement officials, that Michael Jackson does not repeat his January court appearance antics; whereby he climbed on to of an SUV and a did a "moonwalk".
There still seems to be some confusion as to who precisely will be guarding Michael Jackson; it is understood that he has sacked the Nation of Islam, who provided his guard during January's court appearance.
The cost of the appearance this Friday, to Santa Barbara County, is expected to be around $150K on top of the $273K already spent.
I am sure that the people of Santa Maria must be thoroughly fed up with the entire spectacle.
Just hours to go, as I write this, until Michael Jackson appears in court; in respect of the charges brought against him for child molestation.
The details of the grand jury indictment will be made public for the first time. It is possible that they may add to, or remove, some of the original charges.
The Santa Maria Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and Santa Barbara Superior Court are going to erect almost 1000 feet of fencing and barricades to control the crowds; which are expected to be huge (up to 2500).
Fans will be bused in from Los Angeles, starting at 4:00AM; they are being charged $20 per ticket.
It is hoped, by the local law enforcement officials, that Michael Jackson does not repeat his January court appearance antics; whereby he climbed on to of an SUV and a did a "moonwalk".
There still seems to be some confusion as to who precisely will be guarding Michael Jackson; it is understood that he has sacked the Nation of Islam, who provided his guard during January's court appearance.
The cost of the appearance this Friday, to Santa Barbara County, is expected to be around $150K on top of the $273K already spent.
I am sure that the people of Santa Maria must be thoroughly fed up with the entire spectacle.
Thursday, April 29, 2004
A Flying Circus Will Descend on Santa Maria
Not content with blocking roads and sidewalks; the press are expected to descend on the Santa Maria Courts Complex, for Michael Jackson's Friday court appearance, in a swarm of helicopters. Read About Santa Maria.
Additionally, the police will be wielding their chopper in the skies.
Quite a flying circus!
Not content with blocking roads and sidewalks; the press are expected to descend on the Santa Maria Courts Complex, for Michael Jackson's Friday court appearance, in a swarm of helicopters. Read About Santa Maria.
Additionally, the police will be wielding their chopper in the skies.
Quite a flying circus!
Michael Jackson will answer new charges of child molestation in court on Friday 30th April.
It is understood that Michael Jackson will plead not guilty.
The hearing on Friday will take place in the Santa Maria court where Michael Jackson pleaded not guilty in January to seven counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor, and two counts of plying a minor with alcohol.
The court appearance is likely to resemble a circus; as Michael Jackson's family (with the exception of Michael's brother Jermaine who is abroad) will be inside the courtroom, and a multitude of fans will be outside.
Angel Howansky, the president of the Friends of Michael Jackson Committee, is hoping for as many as 1,500 to turn up.
The Friends of Michael Jackson Committee has organised five buses to assist fans to travel from Los Angeles.
In other news, it transpires that Michael Jackson's new lawyer Thomas A. Mesereau had a hand in a local criminal case involving a man freed after more than a decade on Death Row.
I understand that Thomas Mesereau was one of the plethora of lawyers consulted by John D. Marks, during the 14 years between a contract killing Marks committed in Valinda in 1980 and his release on probation in 1994.
A retrial was ordered because two Pomona Superior Court judges made serious errors that invalidated the murder conviction and death sentence of Marks.
It should be noted that Pomona lawyer Gary W. Meastas was Marks' actual attorney when he walked free. It is understood that Mesereau tried but failed to get appointed to the case before a plea agreement was reached.
In the murder case, Marks conspired with two other people to kill Ronald Moore inside the victim's home on Maplegrove Street on 24th November 1980.
Marks was found guilty of murder, and conspiracy to commit murder, even though the jury found Marks did not pull the trigger. After the reversal, and years of delays in starting the retrial, Marks pleaded no contest to second degree murder in 1994 and was released.
It is understood that Michael Jackson will plead not guilty.
The hearing on Friday will take place in the Santa Maria court where Michael Jackson pleaded not guilty in January to seven counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor, and two counts of plying a minor with alcohol.
The court appearance is likely to resemble a circus; as Michael Jackson's family (with the exception of Michael's brother Jermaine who is abroad) will be inside the courtroom, and a multitude of fans will be outside.
Angel Howansky, the president of the Friends of Michael Jackson Committee, is hoping for as many as 1,500 to turn up.
The Friends of Michael Jackson Committee has organised five buses to assist fans to travel from Los Angeles.
In other news, it transpires that Michael Jackson's new lawyer Thomas A. Mesereau had a hand in a local criminal case involving a man freed after more than a decade on Death Row.
I understand that Thomas Mesereau was one of the plethora of lawyers consulted by John D. Marks, during the 14 years between a contract killing Marks committed in Valinda in 1980 and his release on probation in 1994.
A retrial was ordered because two Pomona Superior Court judges made serious errors that invalidated the murder conviction and death sentence of Marks.
It should be noted that Pomona lawyer Gary W. Meastas was Marks' actual attorney when he walked free. It is understood that Mesereau tried but failed to get appointed to the case before a plea agreement was reached.
In the murder case, Marks conspired with two other people to kill Ronald Moore inside the victim's home on Maplegrove Street on 24th November 1980.
Marks was found guilty of murder, and conspiracy to commit murder, even though the jury found Marks did not pull the trigger. After the reversal, and years of delays in starting the retrial, Marks pleaded no contest to second degree murder in 1994 and was released.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
I understand that the Superior Court of Santa Barbara will be charging journalsts $250 per day to park their cars. As I noted earlier "it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good!".
On the fashion front; it is rumoured that Michael Jackson has asked Willie Scott, the fashion designer for the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, to design an outfit for every day of the trial.
Willie Scott's clients include Prince.
Rumours as to the the fact that Michael Jackson and Thomas Mesereau, his new lawyer, use the same hairstylist are entirely unfounded.
On the fashion front; it is rumoured that Michael Jackson has asked Willie Scott, the fashion designer for the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, to design an outfit for every day of the trial.
Willie Scott's clients include Prince.
Rumours as to the the fact that Michael Jackson and Thomas Mesereau, his new lawyer, use the same hairstylist are entirely unfounded.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Further details are emerging about the reasons for the change in the legal team representing Michael Jackson in his court case.
It seems that Michael Jackson wants the full attention of those who are to represent him. There is speculation that Michael Jackson is unhappy about his indictment on charges of lewd conduct.
Michael Jackson issued a statement on Monday:
"...This is a decision that I have personally made....It is imperative that I have the full attention of those who are representing me. My life is at stake. Therefore I must feel confident that my interests are of the highest priority."
There is also speculation that Michael Jackson intends to return to Neverland with his children.
It seems that Michael Jackson wants the full attention of those who are to represent him. There is speculation that Michael Jackson is unhappy about his indictment on charges of lewd conduct.
Michael Jackson issued a statement on Monday:
"...This is a decision that I have personally made....It is imperative that I have the full attention of those who are representing me. My life is at stake. Therefore I must feel confident that my interests are of the highest priority."
There is also speculation that Michael Jackson intends to return to Neverland with his children.
Monday, April 26, 2004
Michael Jackson's two lead lawyers, defending him in a child molestation case, have quit.
Benjamin Brafman, the New York criminal lawyer hired by Michael Jackson to represent him, said that he and Mark Geragos were stepping down. However, no reason has been given for their resignation.
They have wished Michael Jackson well in his forthcoming trial.
The lawyers will still appear at Friday's hearing where Michael Jackson will enter his plea.
It is understood that they will be replaced by Thomas Mesereau, Jr., who represented actor Robert Blake in his murder case.
The departure of Michael Jackson's lawyers may cause the trial to be delayed.
Benjamin Brafman, the New York criminal lawyer hired by Michael Jackson to represent him, said that he and Mark Geragos were stepping down. However, no reason has been given for their resignation.
They have wished Michael Jackson well in his forthcoming trial.
The lawyers will still appear at Friday's hearing where Michael Jackson will enter his plea.
It is understood that they will be replaced by Thomas Mesereau, Jr., who represented actor Robert Blake in his murder case.
The departure of Michael Jackson's lawyers may cause the trial to be delayed.
Sunday, April 25, 2004
It is reported that Santa Barbara County (California) has, to date, spent $273K in prosecuting Michael Jackson for alleged child molestation. It is expected that this cost will continue to rise.
The costs covers such items as; court staff hours and overtime for sheriff's deputies.
Although some money comes from funding designated for trials and district attorney's investigations, the overtime pay is extra and outwith the normal budget.
Prosecutors have charged the pop star with seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. Michael Jackson has pleaded innocent.
The costs of the grand jury proceedings are yet to be budgeted for.
The indictment against Michael Jackson was ordered sealed until Friday, when he is scheduled to appear at a pretrial hearing.
The cost of putting Michael Jackson on trial, and dealing the the associated media feeding frenzy, could not have come at a worse time for the county; it is already facing an estimated $22M deficit on its 2004-2005 budget.
There is of course always a silver lining, the county intends to charge the media fees for use of its facilities and security.
As the old saying goes "It's and ill wind that blows nobody any good! ".
The costs covers such items as; court staff hours and overtime for sheriff's deputies.
Although some money comes from funding designated for trials and district attorney's investigations, the overtime pay is extra and outwith the normal budget.
Prosecutors have charged the pop star with seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. Michael Jackson has pleaded innocent.
The costs of the grand jury proceedings are yet to be budgeted for.
The indictment against Michael Jackson was ordered sealed until Friday, when he is scheduled to appear at a pretrial hearing.
The cost of putting Michael Jackson on trial, and dealing the the associated media feeding frenzy, could not have come at a worse time for the county; it is already facing an estimated $22M deficit on its 2004-2005 budget.
There is of course always a silver lining, the county intends to charge the media fees for use of its facilities and security.
As the old saying goes "It's and ill wind that blows nobody any good! ".
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