Michael Jackson's Trials

Michael Jackson's Trials

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The Ongoing Trials of The Late Michael Jackson

Saturday, July 17, 2004

Law or Showbiz?

It seems that even Tom Sneddon, who is leading the prosecution of Michael Jackson in his forthcoming child molestation trial, needs a little help with PR.
 
It is reported that Susan Tellem, a public relations expert, is offering her advice to Sneddon for free. She is reported to have felt that his first press conference, in November 2003, was badly handled; and that he could do with some help.
 
There I was, thinking that the trial was about truth and justice!


Friday, July 16, 2004

Suppression After Suppression

It is reported that Judge Rodney Melville, who is handling he pretrial hearings of the Michael Jackson child molestation case, has ordered the suppression of the details of an application by Michael Jackson's lawyers to postpone the trial.
 
The Judge did not give a reason, nor did he say how long a postponement has been sought.
 
The original date for trial has been set for 13 September; but now, who knows?

This makes the 12th suppression ordered by Melville.

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

What's In a Name?

In a bizarre irony, the mother of the child accusing Michael Jackson of molestation has got married; to a certain Jay Jackson.

The ceremony took place in Las Vegas on May the 29th, she is now called Janet Jackson.

Confused?

I am sure that there will be more twists and turns in this ongoing saga, to increase the sense of confusion.


Tuesday, July 13, 2004

The Jackson Letters

It is reported that the mother of the child, who is accusing Michael Jackson of molestation, has filed a legal action against Jackson and his colleagues.

She is alleging that letters, written by Michael Jackson to her son, have been stolen by employees of Jackson.

It seems that Bradley Miller, the investigator whose offices Tom Sneddon raided in 2003, is the central player in the "who stole the letters?" conspiracy.

Miller is alleged to have placed family possessions in storage, whilst the family hid to avoid the press, when the possessions were returned they came back minus the letters.

The question now on everyone's lips is "what is the contents of these letters?", if indeed they do exist.

Monday, July 12, 2004

Shut Your Mouth

It is reported that Judge Rodney Melville has given a verbal rebuke to Michael Jackson, for responding in public to child molestation allegations relating to an earlier case. This public response violates a gag order about the current child molestation case.

The issue centres on the 1993 child molestation case, where Jackson paid $23M to settle out of court.

Thomas Mesereau, Michael Jackson's lawyer, argues that the gag order is not relevant to an 11 year old case.

The issue here though, according to the judge, is whether evidence from the 1993 case will be used in the current child molestation case. Until that is decided, theoretically commenting on the 1993 case violates the gag on the current case.

Under these circumstances, the best thing that Jackson can do is keep his mouth shut; no matter how much he may wish to speak up.

Sunday, July 11, 2004

Turning The Tables

It is reported that Judge Rodney Melville, who is presiding over the pre trial hearings relating to the upcoming Michael Jackson trial, has ordered DA Tom Sneddon to explain why he searched the offices of Bradley Miller a private investigator.

When the offices were searched in November 2003, video tapes and disc drives were seized. It seems that Miller may have been working for the defence team at this stage; hence the seizure could be a breach of client/attorney privilege.

Tom Sneddon, who is leading the prosecution of Michael Jackson, has claimed he didn't know Miller was working for the defence.

The legalistic "punch up" in court between prosecution and defence teams, over this issue, had been expected to occur on Friday. However, Robert Sanger a defence attorney has asked for more time so that he may review the evidence.

Judge Melville was reportedly "pissed off" at this delay.

I am reminded of the scene in a Laurel and Hardy film, where Stan rushes down a flight of stairs in an apartment block telling everyone "there's going to be a fight". Everyone ends up in the street, waiting for a fight between Olly and another resident; in the end members of the crowd start to fight with each other.