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

Oh the courts in my area don't get their act together either .. but they jurors still had to be there at 8:30am

There were a few days we sat around till 11:00

41 posted on 06/08/2005 3:55:11 PM PDT by Mo1 (Democrats = The Socialist Party)
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To: K4Harty

"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?"



Pheasants are mighty good eatin', almost as good as quail.

Peasants, on the other hand . . . : )


42 posted on 06/08/2005 3:55:27 PM PDT by AuH2ORepublican (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.)
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To: boothead
If I was anywhere near Jacko I would have my back against the wall.

LOL!

43 posted on 06/08/2005 3:57:25 PM PDT by silent_jonny (texasflower is a babe!)
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To: hsmomx3

"I would love to see him without the wigs and makeup, though."

Please be our friend. Don't put us through that.


44 posted on 06/08/2005 3:57:29 PM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
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To: Republicus2001
He'll be here until the verdict (or mistrial) is announced but if he's convicted I can guarantee you that there are plans for his immediate flight to a non-extradition country of his choice.

Michael won't commit suicide...noooo. All the vanity that went into carving up that face...no way. He will run though. He has had plenty of time to stash the cash and make the plans. If he is convicted the lawyers will make a deal with the count that he will surrender to authorites on a certain day and he will disappear that night. I'm telling you the plans have been in effect since the beginning of this trial, maybe before.

That being said, I don't think he will be convicted. Remember OJ, we thought that there wasn't any doubt in that. Well, the defense has produced plenty of doubt in this one. I think the jury is mulling over the alcohol charges and some other minor things. He won't do a day in the slammer. He'll 'moonwalk' out of that courtroom.

45 posted on 06/08/2005 3:58:04 PM PDT by timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)
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To: ozarkgirl
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).

Actually, they're trailing Latoya. They did a switcheroo.

46 posted on 06/08/2005 3:58:45 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: Howlin

By LINDA DEUTSCH

(AP) Pop star Michael Jackson leaves the Santa Barbara County Courthouse on May 12, 2005 in Santa Maria,...
Full Image



SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) - A controversy over the gag order in the Michael Jackson case erupted Wednesday when Jackson's spokeswoman held a press conference and said it had been approved by his attorney. The attorney quickly responded, saying no one had been authorized to hold news conferences on Jackson's behalf.

The development came as the jurors in Jackson's molestation trial wrapped up their third full day of deliberations. The statement from attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. appeared aimed at assuring the court that his defense team had not violated the gag order.


47 posted on 06/08/2005 4:01:09 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: RushCrush

2:30pm, why does the jury end deliberations so early?



That was the court schedule wasn't it?..... Six hours with three 10 minute breaks and then go home.


48 posted on 06/08/2005 4:01:23 PM PDT by deport (Women always get the last say in an argument.. anything after that is the start of a new argument)
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To: Howlin
Surely you're not suggesting that the jurors watched television? No, you can't possbily be suggesting that!
49 posted on 06/08/2005 4:01:24 PM PDT by silent_jonny (texasflower is a babe!)
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To: timydnuc

"I think the jury is mulling over the alcohol charges and some other minor things."

Actually I think they have already gotten the alcohol charges over with and are focusing on the major things -molestation charges and conspiracy. I say he is convicted on the molestation charges. Not sure about conspiracy. They may shock everyone and convict him on that too.


50 posted on 06/08/2005 4:02:15 PM PDT by somerville
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To: somerville
Didn't the OJ jury return a verdict in less than an hour ?

The OJ trial was such a joke (the police and the prosecution thouroughly screwed up any chance of getting a conviction) and the 6 month(?) ordeal had gone on for so long the jurors just wanted out of there and back to their "normal" lives.

I believe OJ was guilty, but if I was sitting on that jury, given the amount of time and incompentence the judge and attorney's had displayed. I'd vote anyway to get me home to a home cooked dinner.
51 posted on 06/08/2005 4:03:50 PM PDT by birbear (I know it might be wrong, but I'm love with Stacy's mom. And Kim's. And Rachel's. And Janet's.)
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To: somerville

Juries can be very funny thing (OJ comes to mind).


52 posted on 06/08/2005 4:05:08 PM PDT by timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)
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To: Fudd Fan
Could someone please explain why the Jacksons would use a 'family spokesperson' with such an obvious lisp and lack of mental facilities?


53 posted on 06/08/2005 4:06:40 PM PDT by Hillary's Lovely Legs (This post wasn't cleared by the Fresno Mafia, so I expect a personal attack any moment.)
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To: somerville
"I say he is convicted on the molestation charges. Not sure about conspiracy. They may shock everyone and convict him on that too."

If so, then the jury will have done a very bad job. The wackjob mother alone is reasonable doubt. I'm not saying Jacko isn't a molester, but this trial sure didn't prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
54 posted on 06/08/2005 4:08:54 PM PDT by RightOnTheLeftCoast (You're it)
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs

Maybe she's a fake - no one hired her, just showed up and said she was.


55 posted on 06/08/2005 4:12:46 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: Howlin

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

They also can't pay them to stay after 2:30 or 3 either. That's why the short hours.


56 posted on 06/08/2005 4:13:20 PM PDT by GOP_Proud (...stumbling across Bill Bennett on the radio is like bumping into Socrates at Starbucks.-K.Parker)
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To: SkyPilot

And yet she just sent a statement to Dan Abrams saying that that statement doesn't apply to HER.

Wonder if they mean Jesse?


57 posted on 06/08/2005 4:15:34 PM PDT by Howlin (Up or down on Janice Brown!)
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To: somerville

At tradesports.com, the price of a contract for Jackson being found guilty of at least one count of intoxicating a minor is trading at about $0.665. A contract for him being found guilty of at least one count of committing a lewd or lascivious act against a minor is at $0.470. Both contracts are falling in price right now. It doesn't look good for Whacko Jacko.


58 posted on 06/08/2005 4:19:01 PM PDT by PeoplesRepublicOfWashington (Washington State--Land of Court-approved Voting Fraud.)
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To: AuH2ORepublican

ROTFLMAO at the typo...pheasants in t-shirts...with one little white glove on their leg..


59 posted on 06/08/2005 4:22:03 PM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (If Islam is a religion of peace, they should fire their P.R. guy!)
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To: AuH2ORepublican

He couldn't afford to live in a place so upscale they can afford to clothe all their game birds.


60 posted on 06/08/2005 4:26:58 PM PDT by sharktrager (The masses will trade liberty for a more quiet life.)
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