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Jackson boy defends abuse denial

Michael Jackson denies charges of sex abuse and false imprisonment
Michael Jackson's teenage accuser has said he told a teacher the singer did not sexually abuse him to stop his classmates mocking him.

Gavin Arvizo, 15, has now finished giving evidence in the trial.

It comes a day after he admitted under cross-examination that he had denied being molested when asked by a teacher.

Last week the court in Santa Maria, California, heard the boy's account of how the alleged abuse took place. Mr Jackson denies all the charges.

Prosecutor Tom Sneddon asked Gavin on Tuesday why he had denied being abused when questioned about it by his former teacher, Jeffrey Alpert, in 2003.


All the kids were already making fun of me at school and I didn't want anyone to think it had really happened
Gavin Arvizo

The teenager replied that on returning from his last stay at the singer's ranch, Neverland, school friends mocked him, saying he was the boy "raped" by Michael Jackson.

He said he had been in several fights as a result and so was called in to see Mr Alpert, a dean at his Los Angeles school.

In the stand on Monday, Gavin had admitted telling his former teacher that the singer "didn't do anything to me".

He explained on Tuesday: "All the kids were already making fun of me at school and I didn't want anyone to think it had really happened."

'Caught drinking'

Before Gavin concluded his evidence, Mr Sneddon asked him what he thought of Mr Jackson now.

"I don't really like him any more," the boy said. "I don't think he was really deserving of the respect I was giving him as the coolest guy in the world."

Mr Mesereau wrapped up his cross-examination by focusing on the allegations that Mr Jackson had given Gavin alcohol and kept the boy and his family at Neverland against their will.

The lawyer suggested Gavin had been caught drinking at Neverland while the singer was away.

Neverland
Mr Jackson's Neverland ranch is at the centre of the case

He also asked why no-one in the boy's family had ever complained about being held prisoner despite numerous opportunities.

Gavin said he had not tried to escape because "I liked being at Neverland - it was like Disneyland". His mother had been more worried, he added.

The prosecution claims the family was held at the ranch for more than a month because Mr Jackson wanted them to make a video rebutting damaging claims made in a 2003 documentary.

Mr Mesereau concluded by asking the teenager if he had ever discussed the money he would make if Mr Jackson were convicted, the BBC's Michael Buchanan in Santa Maria says.

The defence team's central argument is that Gavin and his family invented the allegations of sexual abuse in order to make money from him.

Mr Mesereau's questioning on Monday showed up several apparent inconsistencies in Gavin's testimony.

He suggested Gavin had acted out of vengeance after he felt abandoned by the singer, a man he saw as a father figure and had called "Daddy Michael".

Mr Jackson denies 10 charges including child abuse and false imprisonment. BBC

the prosecution is falling to pieces, from how it looks on the outside. Maybe the mood of the jury is very different to the way the media portray it, but it is currently looking pretty good for jackson.

Calrissian: Budget Day mood

Whatever the outcome, I would seriously question the motives of any parent who would leave their child alone with Michael Jackson from now on.

Jackson accuser 'vague on abuse'

Police found adult material in a search of Michael Jackson's home
Michael Jackson's teenage accuser claimed he was molested five to seven times but could describe only two instances in detail, a policeman said.

Gavin Arvizo, 15, "could not articulate exactly" what happened every time, Sgt Steve Robel told the court in evidence.

Jurors were also shown magazines and videos alleged to form part of a collection of pornography Mr Jackson kept around his Neverland ranch.

The singer denies 10 charges, including child abuse and false imprisonment.

Sgt Robel, the lead investigator on the case, told the court that Gavin Arvizo "choked up" while describing details of the alleged abuse to police.

"He was fine with talking to us," Sgt Robel said.

"When I got into the molestation acts, I noticed a change in demeanour. He became very quiet, folded his arms and sank down into his chair. He even became choked up."

Prosecutor Tom Sneddon also questioned Sgt Robel over apparent discrepancies in the number of times Gavin claimed he was molested.



The boy testified earlier to only two molestations, but said he believed there may have been more.

Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch was raided without warning
Sgt Robel said: "In the first interview, he described two incidents in detail. He thought that it happened between five and seven times but he could not articulate exactly."

The officer confirmed that Gavin had been able to give detailed accounts of only two alleged molestations since his first interviews in July 2003.

Jurors were also shown a host of pornographic DVDs, magazines and books seized by police during searches of Neverland.

Gavin, 15, and his brother Star have both said Mr Jackson showed them adult internet sites and magazines.

Huge enlargements of magazine covers showing topless women in suggestive poses were flashed before the jury.

But Mr Jackson's defence team pointed out on several occasions that some of the magazines and books were published after the abuse was alleged to have occurred.



Meanwhile, a US television network said it had details of a police interview with talk show host Jay Leno.

On Tuesday, the teenager denied ever speaking to Leno, but said he once called the comedian from a hospital and left a message on an answering machine.

In the police tape, Mr Leno apparently says he was telephoned by Gavin and that, during the conversation, he could hear the boy's mother seeming to coach him on what to say.

The BBC's Daniela Relph in Santa Maria, California, says the revelation is another blow to Gavin's credibility.

The defence is trying to build a picture of a mother using her children to get money from celebrities, our correspondent says.

During Gavin's final stint in the witness stand on Tuesday, he explained he had denied being molested when asked by a teacher because school friends had mocked him as the boy "raped" by Michael Jackson.

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4355607.st=BBC[/url]

CHILDREN 'DRUNK' AT RANCH
Michael Jackson's former housekeeper has told how she saw a number of children drunk at his Neverland ranch.

Kiki Fournier said she once served dinner to the star and four children - three of whom appeared to be intoxicated.

She recalled seeing youngsters the worse for drink at Neverland on at least three occasions.

Ms Fournier was giving evidence on day 14 of Jackson's sex abuse trial in Santa Maria, California.

She told the jury Jackson had close friendships with several boys aged 10 to 14.

Children would stay at his ranch from a few days to months at a time and sometimes slept in his bedroom.

Ms Fournier, who worked for Jackson for over 12 years, said the young guests included the actor Macaulay Culkin.

Jackson denies 10 charges including child molestation, giving alcohol to his teenage accuser Gavin Arvizo and plotting to kidnap his family.

Earlier, Arvizo's family were given a glowing reference by a Los Angeles TV weatherman who had befriended them.


Fritz Coleman said they had never asked him for money or behaved inappropriately.

He said of 15-year-old Arvizo, his brother and sister: "I found them personable and polite and charismatic."

Mr Coleman, also a stand up comedian, said he first met them in 1999 when he was teaching at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood.

He heard the family were hard up and together with a friend bought them gifts worth hundreds of dollars.

Her later visited Gavin Arvizo in hospital after he became ill with cancer.

"This was in the darkest days of his diagnosis when they were not sure he was going to make it. It was very hard to watch," he said.

Mr Coleman was called to the stand after Jackson's lawyers claimed the Arvizos asked him to help with the boy's medical bills.

Jackson, 46, faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted. The trial is expected to last up to five months. http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,3 ... 29,00.html]Sky[url=[/url]

Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson child molestation case asked the trial judge today to schedule a hearing as early as next week on whether to admit evidence of alleged prior sexual offences by Jackson.

Jackson has never been convicted of a prior sexual offense but prosecutors want to present witnesses they believe will show that the current case is part of a pattern.

On Thursday, a witness mentioned Jordy Chandler who made molestation allegations against Jackson in 1993 and received a multimillion-dollar civil settlement.

District Attorney Tom Sneddon asked Judge Rodney Melville that a hearing on the issue be held on March 25 or 28.

Sneddon said that would be soon after prosecutors wrap up the section of their case alleging that Jackson molested his accuser at the pop star’s Neverland ranch in 2003.

The next stage of the prosecution case will focus on allegations that the singer held the alleged victim and his family captive to get them to rebut a February 2003 TV documentary in which Jackson appeared with the then-13-year-old boy and said he allowed children to sleep in his bed, although he described it as innocent.

There was no immediate ruling on the hearing date.

Only motions were being heard in the Santa Maria court today, and Jackson had been told he did not have to attend.

One of his lawyers said the singer was still in pain from a back injury and would rest through the weekend.

Jackson, 46, is charged with molestation, giving the boy alcohol and conspiring to hold the family captive. Breakingnews

19th March 2005

Mr Jackson's lawyers admitted settling two past cases out of court
The judge in Michael Jackson's trial has ordered a hearing to decide whether jurors can be told about past sex offence allegations against the singer.

Prosecutors want to call the alleged victims of two previous cases against Mr Jackson as witnesses in his current child molestation trial.

Both previous cases were settled out of court. Judge Rodney Melville will rule on the matter at a 28 March hearing.

Mr Jackson denies 10 charges, including child abuse and false imprisonment.

"Inflammatory evidence"

Details of the previous cases have never been made public - but last September the singer's lawyers admitted they settled two civil cases out of court.

In a 1993 case, Mr Jackson agreed to pay a boy he was accused of molesting a reported $20m (£10.4m). Police also learned of a separate case in 1990.

Defence lawyer Robert Sanger said Judge Melville would have to determine whether evidence from past accusers would be "so inflammatory as to be prejudicial" to the current case against Mr Jackson.

He also asked the judge to consider the risk of confusing jurors and causing major delays to the trial.

Mr Arvizo was said to have accused comic George Lopez of theft

Neither Mr Jackson nor the trial jurors were required to attend legal discussions at Santa Barbara Superior Court on Friday.

Judge Melville also agreed to allow testimony that Mr Jackson's teenage accuser, Gavin Arvizo, once accused comedian George Lopez of stealing his wallet.

Defence lawyer Mr Sanger said the boy met the Mexican comic at a comedy club but later had a disagreement with him.

Sanger said the boy was subsequently persuaded by his father to accuse the comedian of stealing his wallet and demanded $300 (£156) in return.

The defence team said the incident demonstrated a pattern of the accuser trying to obtain money from celebrities.

"There is a good faith belief here that there are parallel patterns," said Mr Sanger. "When there is a falling out there is an accusation."

Prosecutor Tom Sneddon sought to block the evidence, saying Gavin Arvizo had tried to resist his father's plan. The trial is due to resume on Monday. BBC

21st March 2005


Jackson molestation evidence may end this week


Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson trial say they may wrap up the stage of their case focusing on a boy’s molestation claims as early as this week.

Those expected to testify about the alleged molestation include investigators who searched Jackson’s Neverland Valley Ranch on November 18, 2003, and Stan Katz, a psychologist who interviewed the boy and his brother about the alleged molestation.

What comes after the testimony will depend on how Judge Rodney Melville rules in a hearing next Monday on the prosecution’s request that they be allowed to present evidence of alleged past molestations by Jackson.

If the judge agrees to admit the evidence, they may begin presenting witnesses about Jackson’s past immediately after the ruling.

Jackson has never been criminally charged with a past offence, but prosecutors want to present witnesses to show that the current case is part of a pattern.

They also want to tell jurors about an accusation against Jackson by another boy in 1993 that resulted in a multimillion-dollar civil settlement.

After presenting evidence on the molestation, prosecutors will focus on the next stage of their case: the allegation that Jackson held the boy’s family captive to get them to help him rebut a damaging documentary in which he acknowledged sharing his bed with children.

Jackson said the sleepovers were innocent and non-sexual.

When testimony finished on Thursday, prosecutors were presenting dozens of books and adult magazines seized from Neverland that they allege Jackson may have used to lure his accuser into being molested.

The boy and his brother said they saw several adult magazines when they were in Jackson’s bedroom. In one instance, they said they found the publications while poking through Jackson’s belongings. breakingnews

21st March 2005

'Ill' Jackson late in court again

Jackson needed help walking into the court building
Michael Jackson's child abuse trial was delayed for 45 minutes after the singer arrived at court late and accompanied by a doctor.

Mr Jackson, who denies 10 charges of molesting a teenage boy at his ranch two years ago, looked frail.

Judge Rodney Melville resumed without explanation after 45 minutes of talks with Mr Jackson's lawyers and doctor.

The singer arrived more than an hour late on 10 March and was reprimanded by the judge.

On this occasion, the judge appeared to take no action against Mr Jackson.

Beckoned

The star, who had trouble walking, was led to the bathroom during the adjournment.

The doctor, who is understood to work at a local hospital, had arrived at court five minutes after Mr Jackson and wore medical clothing underneath a baseball-style jacket.

He was beckoned over by the defendant as soon as he walked into court, prompting the adjournment.

Resuming after the delay, Mr Jackson's lawyer Thomas Mesereau continued his cross-examination of Konn Able, a police detective involved in the search of the singer's Neverland ranch.

In what is the fourth week of the trial, jurors are expected to hear evidence from a psychologist and a lawyer who interviewed Mr Jackson's accuser, Gavin Arvizo, soon after the alleged abuse took place.

BBC

Jail his butt for contempt.

Ohhh, but no...he's a celebrity - and a white one at that, thus he'll be treated very leniantly.
I guess jack' can turn up as often as he wants, and have the judge just pass a blind eye to him.

Unbelievable.
*I read elsewhere today, a qualified prediction that Jackson will be calling in 'sick' this week or next, in yet another attempt to push back the final verdict just a bit more.

Calrissian:Jackson makes 'calrissian' seem positively normal

ahh, yes. Tuesday morning...jackson is almost another hour 'late'...

Now he is complaining he is in such pain. Psychosomatic symptoms resulting from the immense guilt and fear of 'something' he has done perhaps? Or is jackson's body just falling to pieces, does he have only a short time left to live? Hmmm

By the way, what the hell is it with him and the umbrella man who is always by his side?

Calrissian: Always leaves home with an umbella

Well he's lost his Tan and he doesn't want another one

One issue that one of the prosecution witnesses mentioned today, something in the region of only 3-6% of all abuse allegations are actually false.
I'm not sure what any jury would make of that.

If Jackson 'had to' fall into one of the 'weird' catagories it would have to the minority category. Hmm. Oh well, we'll see.

*
Q. anyone got any ideas on when this trial might be over. Its now coming to end March, could we see all this wrapped up by early June?

Calrissian: Likes Umbellas

Debate over Jackson's 'porn pics'
Michael Jackson arriving at court on Wednesday
Jackson looked stronger and responded to fans' calls
Prosecutors at Michael Jackson's child abuse trial have said jurors should be told about more than 1,700 pornographic images stored on his computers.

They offer "powerful corroboration" to allegations made against Mr Jackson, prosecutors told Judge Rodney Melville.

The images were stored between 1998 and 2003 and include many pictures of teenagers, they said. Defence lawyers said the pictures were not relevant.

Mr Jackson denies 10 charges, including child abuse and false imprisonment.

Earlier, the singer arrived at court 20 minutes early, two days after proceedings were delayed when Mr Jackson entered late and complained of back pains.

'Serious reservations'

Looking stronger on Wednesday he walked into court unaided, followed by his lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, and his parents.

He waved to acknowledge a fan who called out "We love you Michael".

Neverland
Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch is at the centre of the case
In court, prosecutor Gordon Auchincloss described the pictures on three computers as "the circumstantial link that provides powerful corroboration for our witness in this case".

Gavin Arvizo, now 15, alleges that Mr Jackson abused him during a stay at the star's Neverland ranch in 2003.

The singer is also alleged to have shown Gavin and his brother Star pornography and given them alcohol during their stay.

But Mr Jackson's lawyers argued that the images were not directly downloaded or saved onto the computers, merely "cached" during routine web browsing.

All the material was heterosexual and there was no evidence it was directly related to the case, they argued.

Judge Melville declined to rule immediately, but said he had "serious reservations" about the images, and was inclined to rule them out as evidence. BBC

Monday is the Day Of Reckoning for Jackson.
nypost