BB FANS

Shamone! What a transformation. Eh-hee! Sky News and Sky One have hired Michael Jackson impersonator Edward Moss to play the prince of pop in its reconstructions of his California trial for alleged sexual abuse. Avid Merrion must have been busy bottling his sex wee. But then again, Moss's Jacko impersonation credits do include Nip/Tuck and Scary Movie 3. He says: "This is my biggest challenge to date and I am aware that my portrayal will be followed by millions every day." Millions? Eddie, have you seen the ratings for Sky News and Sky One recently? guardian

Jackson juror questions revealed

Michael Jackson's trial could last up to six months
Some potential jurors in the Michael Jackson child abuse trial have links to the singer's Neverland Ranch, according to papers released by the court.

Answers to jury questionnaires also reveal that about one in seven of those remaining in the jury pool have friends or family who know Mr Jackson.

The seven-page questionnaires, which were completed last week, are aimed at ensuring the star gets a fair hearing.

Mr Jackson, 46, has denied 10 counts of child molestation and conspiracy.



The questionnaires, which were filled out by 242 potential jurors, showed that some have children who have visited Mr Jackson's Neverland ranch.

One potential juror, a 47-year-old woman said one of her sons worked at Neverland ranch, while her 15-year-old son had visited to "ride and hang out".

Another said her disabled daughter was allowed to go to Neverland with her school, but that Mr Jackson was "not present" at the time.

One 70-year-old potential juror wrote simply: "His uncle is a personal friend."

Trial delay

Another potential juror said he was friends with of a cousin of Mr Jackson, and one man said he worked with a firefighter employed part-time at Neverland.

The questionnaires covered a range of topics from personal experiences as a victim of sex abuse to racial bias that might affect their ability to function as a juror.

Almost nine in 10 potential jurors said they had read or watched a lot or a little news about the case.

Jury selection is expected to resume next week after a week-long break.

The trial has been delayed until 14 February following a death in the family of Mr Jackson's lead defence lawyer. BBC

Jackson trial calls ex-child star

Corey Feldman starred in The Goonies and Stand By Me
Actor Corey Feldman has been ordered to testify at the trial of Michael Jackson after describing in a TV interview his visits to the singer's home as a teen.

Mr Feldman told journalist Martin Bashir how Mr Jackson showed him a book with pictures of naked men and women.

Mr Feldman, 33, who starred in Lost Boys and The Goonies, said he was now questioning how appropriate his relationship with the singer was.

Mr Jackson is standing trial on child molestation charges which he denies.


Mr Feldman's television interview with Bashir will be shown in the US on Friday night on ABC's 20/20 show.

In the interview he talked about a book that was on display at the Neverland ranch when he visited at the age of 13 or 14.

"The book was focused on venereal diseases and the genitalia," Mr Feldman said.


I did what I believed was right as a friend - I defended him up and down
Corey Feldman

"(Mr Jackson) sat down with me and he explained it to me, showed me some different pictures and discussed what those meant."

Mr Feldman said at the time that he did not see the event as "a big deal" but had started to question it in the light of child abuse allegations facing Mr Jackson.

But he added that Mr Jackson had never touched him inappropriately during their friendship and defended him to police during the 1993 investigation into abuse allegations.



"I did what I believed was right as a friend - I defended him up and down. I did so publicly and I did so behind closed doors with the police," Mr Feldman said.

Now Mr Feldman has been ordered to appear in court by prosecutors to discuss his friendship with Mr Jackson.


Michael Jackson has made his own TV appearances denying all charges
"I guess they're subpoenaing anyone who they think or hope might have anything to say," the actor's manager Scott Carlson said.

Mr Feldman, who starred in a string of hit movies in the 1980s including Stand By Me, suffered drink and drug addiction following his rise to fame.

But he said he had now been clean and sober for 14 years and was reviving his acting career.

Jury selection for Mr Jackson's trial is due to resume on Monday in California, with the trial expected to last up to six months.BBC

One thing I never could stand about the Ranch, all the damn child molesters.
-----

Calrissian: Never vamps out, except around the time of spring equinox.

Don't let your babies sleep over at MJ's

MJ's Favourite Things

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Brilliant

He remains innocent until proven guilty of course, but from the leaked reports (ohh the joys of the net:) ) it ain't looking good for him at all.

Whatever happens, the news hacks are literally drooling over this case. One thing though, the judge looks likely to be hurrying along the pre-case section, rather than allow it to drag out for over 3 mths.

Calrissian: Guilty as.... sin?

'Flu' sends Jackson to hospital
Michael Jackson arrives in court with lawyer Thomas Mesereau
Two of Michael Jackson's children may be called in his defence
Michael Jackson has been rushed to hospital in California with a "severe case of the flu", his trial judge, Judge Rodney Melville, has said.

The singer, 46, fell ill on the way to court where he was due to attend the jury selection process.

A court-approved reporter announced that jury selection would resume at 0800 local time on Tuesday 22 February, to allow Mr Jackson time to recover.

Mr Jackson denies 10 counts of child molestation.

The singer was picked up from his Neverland ranch at 0805 local time (1605 GMT) to be taken to the court in Santa Maria, but his journey was diverted to the Marian Medical Center after he became ill.

Late on Tuesday, Chuck Merrill, an emergency physician at the centre, emerged to say Mr Jackson was tested for "a flu-like illness with some vomiting."

He was undergoing testing and receiving intravenous fluids but was said to be in a stable condition.

"We expect a full recovery," said the physician, who added that Mr Jackson would be able to leave "when he is stable and well enough to go home".

Earlier in the day, Mr Jackson's lawyer Thomas Mesereau said the singer had been rushed to an emergency room and was "very, very ill".

Fifteen minutes after the singer was scheduled to appear in court, Judge Melville told prospective jurors at the courthouse that Mr Jackson had been taken to the hospital.

The judge then asked one lawyer from both sides of the legal case to join him in chambers where he took a lengthy conference call with a doctor at Marian Medical Center who told him Mr Jackson was suffering from " a serious case of flu".

Reporter Ted Rolands said Judge Melville came to Mr Jackson's defence over news of his illness, joking that it was beneficial that he and the prospective jurors steer clear of any possible infection.

Mr Jackson had been due to appear in court for the second day of the individual questioning of potential jurors in the case.

His legal team and the prosecution began the process of questioning prospective jurors on Monday. Jury selection is expected to be completed by the beginning of March.

If convicted, Mr Jackson could face a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison.bbc

how convenient for him. it takes pulling a sickie from work to the extreme!

He probably used too much bleach on his nose!

Jackson leaves hospital

Michael Jackson was admitted to hospital on Tuesday
Pop star Michael Jackson has been released from hospital following treatment for flu-like symptoms.

His admission to a Santa Maria hospital on Tuesday led to a week-long postponement of his trial on charges of child abuse, which he has denied.

"He's still not feeling well, but he's going to continue his recovery at home," said the singer's spokeswoman, Raymone Bain.

Jury selection was under way when Mr Jackson was taken ill on Tuesday.

The judge and potential jurors were already in the courtroom when it was announced that Mr Jackson had been diverted to hospital on his way to court.

On Wednesday, doctors declared he was "in good spirits" but continued to need care for "persistent viral symptoms".

Shortly after, his spokeswoman said doctors had said he was strong enough to go home to his Neverland ranch to recover.



During his stay in hospital, Mr Jackson was seen waving to a gathering of fans from a window at the Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria.
Jackson was seen waving a teddy from his window

Jackson managed to leave the hospital out of sight of the waiting media. bbc

Jackson TV interviews 'evidence'
Michael Jackson was admitted to hospital on Tuesday
Singer Michael Jackson's TV interviews about sharing his bedroom with young boys should be shown to jurors at his forthcoming trial, say prosecutors.

The 46-year-old remarked in interviews with Martin Bashir and another documentary that he shared his room with his 13-year-old accuser.

In court papers released on Thursday, it was revealed that prosecutor Tom Sneddon may testify in the trial.

Mr Jackson's team will try again to have him removed from proceedings.



An attempt in November to have the veteran prosecution lawyer was rejected, despite defence claims that he was "blinded by zeal" in his attempt to have Mr Jackson prosecuted and imprisoned.

Prosecutors are arguing that the singer's remarks in the 2003 ITV documentary made by Martin Bashir, and on US network CBS's 60 Minutes programme, are "admissible as corroboration" of his accuser's claims.

"Certainly the admission that he has slept with many boys clearly shows his willingness to sleep with boys," said the prosecution's 17-page motion.

"I have slept in a bed with many children. I slept in the bed with all of them," said Mr Jackson in the Bashir interview.


He said that it was acceptable to share his bed with children, adding that he was not a paedophile but only did it out of love.

The singer's lawyers want to introduce evidence relating to the accuser's family, claiming they are "professional plaintiffs".

They received $150,000 (£79,236) in damages from two shops, after alleging they were assaulted in a car park in 1998 by security officers.

It was claimed that Mr Jackson's accuser had left without paying for some goods.

His mother later amended her claim, saying that she had been sexually assaulted during the incident.

The prosecution are seeking to limit the use of this evidence, arguing that it is irrelevant to the case. BBC

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Smoking Gun Web site has published 1,903 pages of what it says are the sealed grand jury proceedings that led to the indictment of pop star Michael Jackson on charges of child molestation last year.

The Web site (http://www.thesmokinggun.com), which frequently breaks legal stories, did not say where it obtained the documents -- only that it believed them to be genuine.

"We know where we obtained them," Smoking Gun co-founder and editor William Bastone said, adding there was no question the papers were authentic.

Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville has gone to unusual lengths to keep details of the case sealed until the trial starts.

He ordered the grand jury indictment sealed, including the specifics of the allegations listed against Jackson to protect what he said was the pop star's right to a fair trial. He also has imposed a gag order on lawyers in the case.

Several media outlets have gone to court to get the transcripts unsealed. They have so far been unsuccessful. An appeals court is considering their case.

News organisations have said the judge's actions have thrown a nearly unprecedented veil of secrecy over a high profile case.

Jackson's lawyers and prosecutors operate under a gag order in which they cannot comment on the case without the prior permission of the judge.

In an interview with Reuters, Bastone said the Smoking Gun was not under any legal constraints that would prevent it from publishing the transcript, which includes testimony from Jackson's now 15-year-old accuser, his mother, sister and brother, as well as staff members at Jackson's Neverland Ranch.

"Reporters are not subject to a gag order," Bastone said, adding it was important for the public to know what the case against Jackson is like so they can judge whether the pop star is being fairly treated.

Jackson is charged in a 10-count Santa Barbara County grand jury indictment with sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy, who was seen with the entertainer in a 2003 documentary by journalist Martin Bashir. The singer is also charged with conspiring to commit false imprisonment, extortion and child abduction. He has pleaded not guilty.

ABC News, amid protests from Jackson and his lawyers, recently aired what it said were key portions of the boy's grand jury testimony in which the youth described being molested by Jackson.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

Jackson jury 'may be ready soon'

Mr Jackson was flanked by minders as he arrived at court
Legal experts are predicting that the jury in the Michael Jackson case could be seated by the end of the week.

Twenty potential jurors were dismissed as the child abuse case resumed on Tuesday. Mr Jackson denies the charges.

"It's unheard of in a case like this to have a jury this fast," said former San Francisco lawyer Jim Hammer.

Judge Rodney Melville told jury candidates that a delay due to Mr Jackson's illness was genuine, and was not a delaying tactic by the defence.

"Mr. Jackson really was sick. He really did have the flu. I talked to his doctor. I wouldn't let anyone take advantage of us that way," he said.


The twenty jurors dismissed on Tuesday included five chosen by the prosection and six by the defence.

The judge eliminated another nine, either on legal grounds or because they would be unable to be part of a trial that is expected to last six months.

Both sides are allowed to reject 10 jury candidates without giving an explanation. A jury of 12, with eight substitutes, must be assembled before trial can begin.


Judge Melville also revealed that more potential star witnesses have been added to a list which already includes Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross.

Mr Jackson's defence team have indicated that they have a list of 350 potential witnesses to call upon.

Singer Smokey Robinson and film stars Eddie Murphy and Macaulay Culkin could also be asked to testify at the trial, Judge Melville said on Tuesday.

Mr Jackson, flanked by bodyguards, greeted his fans at the courthouse in Santa Monica, California with a peace sign.

He wore a dark suit and showed no signs of the illness which postponed proceedings last week and saw the pop star admitted to hospital.

If a jury is set in place by the beginning of next week, the trial could commence. However, Judge Melville may first take several days to hear legal arguments from both sides. BBC