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Judge in Jackson Case to Release Statement
Associate Press ^ | 8 June 2005 | LINDA DEUTSCH

Posted on 06/08/2005 3:14:42 PM PDT by SkyPilot

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - In an unusual development with jury deliberations under way, the judge in the Michael Jackson case planned to release a statement Wednesday. The subject of the statement and the timing of its release were not immediately known.

The jury in Jackson's child molestation case ended deliberations for the day around 2:30 p.m. They finished and left the courthouse minutes after the plan to issue a statement was announced.

Word that the statement was planned came after attorneys on both sides met in chambers with Judge Rodney S. Melville, said Peter Shaplen, the news media pool coordinator for the trial.

The jury has now finished three full days of deliberations on the child molestation charges that could send the pop star to prison. The panel meets daily from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with three 10-minute breaks.

The defendant remained away from the courthouse Wednesday but his longtime friend, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, came by to advocate on his behalf before the news media.

Rev. Jackson charged that the jury was being subjected to "psychological warfare" because of a television report in which a former Santa Barbara County sheriff showed a jail where the singer might go if convicted and immediately ordered into custody.

"One might call it a kind of psychological warfare," Rev. Jackson said. "With an unsequestered jury, they are saying here is where he will stay."

In the Tuesday report, former sheriff Jim Thomas, a consultant for NBC, appeared at the main jail in Santa Barbara with MSNBC host Dan Abrams. Thomas showed Abrams the outside of the jail and talked about what would happen if Jackson is convicted and taken there. Pool video footage of the inside of the jail was shown.

Asked if the defendant was upset by the visuals of the jail, Rev. Jackson said, "He's not watching television."

Thomas responded to the Rev. Jackson's statements Wednesday, saying, "I think the jurors are quite capable of figuring out where he'll go, if he's convicted, without my help." The jury has been ordered to avoid all news reports on the trial.

Rev. Jackson said he spent four hours with the pop star Tuesday. He said the singer's parents, brothers and sisters were with him at his Neverland ranch.

"I came here as his friend and minister," he said. "I've known Michael since he was 8 years old. When people's backs are against the wall they turn to God."

The 46-year-old Jackson is charged with molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2003, giving him wine, and conspiracy involving an effort to hold the boy and his family against their will to get them to rebut a damaging documentary about Jackson.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: childabuser; jackson; pedophile; trial
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To: SkyPilot
but his longtime friend, the Rev. Jesse Jackson,

That's Jesse "where 'da camra" Jackson. Right?

21 posted on 06/08/2005 3:23:51 PM PDT by don-o (Don't be a Freeploader. Do the right thing and become a Monthly Donor!)
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To: SkyPilot

Yes, it's true. Dan Abrams on MSNBC read the statement about ten minutes ago. A lot of silliness.


22 posted on 06/08/2005 3:24:08 PM PDT by somerville
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To: SkyPilot
Rev. Jackson charged that the jury was being subjected to "psychological warfare" because of a television report in which a former Santa Barbara County sheriff showed a jail where the singer might go if convicted and immediately ordered into custody.

"One might call it a kind of psychological warfare," Rev. Jackson said. "With an unsequestered jury, they are saying here is where he will stay."

Seeing the prison cell might make the jury more inclined to acquit (to avoid hurting poor Michael). What say you then, Revvvvrend Jackson?

23 posted on 06/08/2005 3:27:39 PM PDT by Jess Kitting
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To: kingu
If they do say that, what are the chances that MJ will flee the country. somewhere with no extradition laws and the pheasants all are still wearing "Thriller" t-shirts?

/tin foil hat off

24 posted on 06/08/2005 3:33:56 PM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (If Islam is a religion of peace, they should fire their P.R. guy!)
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To: Jess Kitting

Je$$e i$n't a$$ociating with and lending hi$ good name to an accu$ed homo$exual pedophile for free, i$ he? Doe$n't make $en$e.....


25 posted on 06/08/2005 3:34:51 PM PDT by eureka! (It will not be safe to vote Democrat for a long, long, time...)
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To: RushCrush
2:30pm, why does the jury end deliberations so early?

I was wondering the same thing

When I was on a jury .. we couldn' leave to the court house closed at 5 pm

26 posted on 06/08/2005 3:39:18 PM PDT by Mo1 (Democrats = The Socialist Party)
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To: SkyPilot
Jesse Jackson "I came here as his friend and minister," he said. "I've known Michael since he was 8 years old. When people's backs are against the wall they turn to God."

If I was anywhere near Jacko I would have my back against the wall.

27 posted on 06/08/2005 3:39:38 PM PDT by boothead
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To: SkyPilot

I think Jackson is gone...there are no photos of him since deliberations began last Thursday


28 posted on 06/08/2005 3:39:47 PM PDT by Republicus2001
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To: Mo1

When I was on a jury in NYC, we got started around 10:30,breaked for lunch at noon til one, and then probably deliberated til 3:30.

These jurors at least start at 8:30 am. No way would the courts here have their act together to get started that early.


29 posted on 06/08/2005 3:42:38 PM PDT by somerville
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To: somerville

http://mjjsource.com/main/index.php?option=com_frontpage&id=1&Itemid=32

I have not authorized anyone to speak or hold any press conferences on behalf of Michael Jackson or his family.

A gag order is in effect which the defense team will continue to honor.

Thomas Mesereau









The efforts of Michael Jackson's friends and supporters are noticed and very much appreciated at this time. However, only Michael Jackson's attorneys of record have been authorized to speak on his behalf.



Source: MJJsource


30 posted on 06/08/2005 3:42:44 PM PDT by Howlin (Up or down on Janice Brown!)
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To: SkyPilot

here's my legal question: if jackson had testified, could the judge have ordered him to use his real voice?


31 posted on 06/08/2005 3:43:13 PM PDT by isom35
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To: Republicus2001
I think Jackson is gone

He's still around. I heard on the news on the radio this morning that police are constantly tailing him and keeping an eye on his plane (just in case). They also said it's not looking good for Jackson, if he was to be acquitted, they thought the jury would have decided by now.

I'm guessing it's either a hung jury or guilty and I'm leaning to a hung jury. I certainly hope not! Make a decision, one way or the other.

32 posted on 06/08/2005 3:43:18 PM PDT by ozarkgirl
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To: somerville; RushCrush; CedarDave

There is no money to pay the overtime for the bayliffs; that's why the jury isn't sequestered.


33 posted on 06/08/2005 3:43:52 PM PDT by Howlin (Up or down on Janice Brown!)
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To: Howlin

I keep wondering if the jurors are watching TV and reading about the Jackson case. My guess is they are.


34 posted on 06/08/2005 3:45:51 PM PDT by somerville
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To: randog

The Picture of Dorian Jackson would be interesting to see.


35 posted on 06/08/2005 3:47:17 PM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: somerville
"They deliberate six hours a day. That's pretty exhausting. Probably more than most juries deliberate."

From what I've heard,during the trial, some jurors came in wearing sandals, kicked 'em off, and rested their bare feet up on the rail. You try that around here and you'll be sitting in a holding cell faster than you can say Birkenstock. I can only imagine how laid back the deliberations are. I'm having a hard time finding a "12 Angry Men" situation here. But I've been wrong MANY times before!LOL!
36 posted on 06/08/2005 3:47:18 PM PDT by zygoat
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To: ozarkgirl

I imagine he must still be there however there have numerous decoy caravans in the past few days and who knows how many exits and/or "camo" cars there are at Neverland? Remember last Thursday was the last day he was REQUIRED to be in court. I don't think I've seen any photos of him since then.


37 posted on 06/08/2005 3:47:42 PM PDT by Republicus2001
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To: somerville

Just a minute ago, someone reported that Jay Leno did a skit about the judge losing his gavel and the next day in court, the judge said, "Has anybody see my gavel," and some of the jurors laughed.

Hmm...


38 posted on 06/08/2005 3:48:29 PM PDT by Howlin (Up or down on Janice Brown!)
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To: zygoat
Well, I can certainly tell you that Texas juries don't head home at 2:30 pm and call it a full day.

Generally, though, we'll get an hour off for lunch.

39 posted on 06/08/2005 3:51:30 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Howlin

I don't know. The whole situation is so tense . I'd probably cracking a joke or two out of nerves.

The fact that they are still deliberating says to me they are taking this seriously.

Didn't the OJ jury return a verdict in less than an hour ?


40 posted on 06/08/2005 3:51:47 PM PDT by somerville
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