The hearing will "hear" (sorry!) evidence and statements from both prosecution and defence teams, as to whether previous sexual abuse allegations relating to Jackson should be admitted in the trial.
The request for a closed hearing was made on Friday.
The defence argue that the admission of allegations of previous abuse would prejudice the forthcoming trial, and that public disclosure in the pretrial hearing would contaminate the jury pool.
That may well be so, but it is a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted; the allegations are already in the public domain, and the jury pool would have had to be living on Mars not to be aware of them.
The defence argue that the prosecution case for admitting previous allegations is weak; citing the fact that the prosecution are planning to bring in only one alleged victim, but will be using testimony from disgruntled ex employees and others.
Two allegations that are most definitely in the public domain are:
- The report on the news program "Dateline NBC", on September 3 2004, that Jackson paid $2M to the son of a maid at his Neverland Valley Ranch in 1990; to avoid a child molestation accusation.
- In 1993, Jackson paid the family of another boy $15M to settle a different set of child molestation accusations. Jackson admitted no wrongdoing.
I have said it before, and will say it again, in this particular case the US legal system by seeking to bury this trial in gag orders etc seems to be trying to emulate the British obsession with secrecy.
The time has come for all of us to really find out about Michael Jackson. We have been told this, and that!
ReplyDeleteMichael Jackson has on countless of times contridict himself; continue to be very misunderstanding concerning childrens who he can be their father, or he just can't put 2X2 together. His family can't understand that Michael is really sick and needs help mentally. Each time he appear in public; he feel he has to perform.....his performing days are over! People around the world might see him differntly in public; but behind close doors; he could be the Monster that kids are really going to face and be suprised at what they will really see and hear. The public have not help Michael in any way...instead of cheering him on; they should be telling him he honest needs to seek help because he can't stay away from little-boys. No matter how much money, fame, and material things he has, even kings fall...and fall hard. Michael has put himself on this mountain that he thinks he can't be reached! The laws that govern all of us is a ladder...it can climb the highest mountain and even affix itself where it can stand a long time. Michael is a sick person, the only thing that's keeping him afloat is the mere fact, that, if he has money, the fact is now, how much he have now with no recording or records deals in many years. We are about to witness history in the making...like human beings, we are not perfect; and when we comit crimes or take it for granted that we are untouchable; we can be touch in the very way that we do not wish to be touched. That is how Michael did what he claims he's not doing...touching little boys in a way that they don't know just how Michael is touching them. Michael is going to do some prison time. Its coming, he must be ready to face the reality and truth about himself; something he should have done a long, long time ago. Its coming! Hang on to your seats and hold your heart that many of you don't faint. The truth must be told!d