Post subject: Jackson Verdict to be Read, Monday (6/13) at 4:30pm ET.
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:44 pm
too drunk to moderate properly
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
It didn't take long for this to break down into a stupid joke. First you had the witness list yesterday and today he gets rushed to the hospital. What? Did his face mask slip off or something? After looking at that witness list all those fucking witness said that they could be impartial. Fuck that! They're all like, "Fuck, I ain't getting kicked off now! I want to meet Kobe and the Backstreet Boys, and fucking Jay Leno, and Chris Tucker. Sweet!"
Quote:
Jackson's All-Star Witness List Mon Feb 14, 5:45 PM ET By Josh Grossberg
If the lawyers don't watch out, Michael Jackson (news)'s child molestation trial could turn into a Love Boat episode.
As juror questioning began Monday, Jackson's lawyers released a list of potential witnesses that reads like the Hollywood phone book and includes the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Kobe Bryant, David Blaine (news - web sites), Jay Leno and 60 Minutes newsman Ed Bradley.
Thomas Mesereau Jr. unveiled the star-heavy list while grilling prospective jurors who will ultimately decide whether the pop star is guilty of 10 counts of child molestation, conspiracy, plying the boy with wine, false imprisonment and extortion.
Jackson's camp released the names to ensure that the 243 potential panelists did not have any connection to witnesses before the lawyers on both sides whittled the field down to a 12-person jury--already dubbed the "Jackson 12"--plus eight alternates.
Other marquee names that could make courtroom cameos on Jackson's behalf: Backstreet Boy Nick Carter (news) and little bro Aaron, Chris Tucker, Barry Gibb, Larry King, Maury Povich and lifestyle guru Deepak Chopra. There could be a mini-Motown reunion--Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross are both on the roster. Quincy Jones (news), who produced "Thriller" and "We Are the World," could be taking the stand, along with relatives of the late Marlon Brando (news), a longtime Jackson ally.
Two of Jackson's children, Paris and Prince Michael, are also listed as potential witnesses.
About the only name missing was Bubbles the Chimp.
On the flip side, the prosecution witness list lacked the name value, but gives a hint into possible trial strategies. District Attorney Tom Sneddon is aiming to call former child star Corey Feldman (news), who has already admitted that Jackson once showed him pornography; ABC journalist Martin Bashir (whose documentary Living with Michael Jackson got this whole circus rolling to begin with and has already shot a sequel); ex-Jackson attorney Mark Geragos; ex-wife Debbie Rowe, with whom Jackson is engaged in a custody spat; Jamie Masada, the comedy club owner who introduced Jackson and his alleged victim; and the young man who was at the center of 1993 molestation allegations against Jackson that the singer settled out of court.
The former King of Pop was in the Santa Maria, California, courtroom to watch the second phase of jury selection kick off Monday. He wore a black suit with a medallion and smiled at his would-be peers.
The judge, meanwhile, cautioned all prospective jurors to be open-minded. "I have not made up my mind in this case and I want to select a jury that feels exactly the same way," Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville told the jury pool at the beginning of the session.
Melville and attorneys for both sides are expected to quiz jurors over the next two weeks before a jury is finally empanelled, weeding out so-called "stealth jurors" who may be biased for or against Jackson. This "voir dire" phase was supposed to begin last week but was postponed following the death of Mesereau's sister. The trial itself could last upward of six months.
The postponement gave Jackson's attorneys and prosecutors extra time to study juror questionnaires filled out two weeks ago.
Per the questionnaires, nine out of 10 would-be jurors said they had either read or watched news reports about the case, while 67 said they had either friends or acquaintances who had either known or previously met Jackson or paid a visit to his Neverland Ranch.
Of the 243 members of the jury pool, which ranges in age from 18 to mid-80s, a majority are white, one-third are Hispanics and only a handful are African-American.
Sixteen potential jurors admitted not being able to judge someone fairly because of their race (apparently it matters to them if you're "black or white"); others confessed to being a victim of "inappropriate sexual behavior of any kind" or knowing someone who was.
Both sides have 10 peremptory challenges, in which they can dismiss jurors without offering a reason. They can also challenge and remove as many times as needed those candidates whom they feel has an obvious bias.
As of Monday afternoon, only one person had been dismissed--an 82-year-old man was allowed to leave for health reasons.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Last edited by ¡B! on Mon Jun 13, 2005 8:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jackson's spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, described the entertainer's back pain as "severe," "excruciating" and "intolerable." Bain quoted Jackson as saying, "I am hurting very much."
Can we give this fucker some Advil and get on with our lives? Who has backpain like this and doesn't get some painkillers.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Green Habit wrote:
pearljamminagain wrote:
is this the only thread on the Jackson trial?... if so, i am very pleased to be part of the RM community and see that no one here gives much a fuck
I don't know if it's the only thread, but I agree with you. In fact, at one point I was mulling moving threads like this to A&E.
Aw, you guys suck! Don't we need to discuss how severely celebrities are allowed to make a mockery of our court system?
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
_________________ "The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum." -Noam Chomsky
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
pearljamminagain wrote:
just_b wrote:
Green Habit wrote:
pearljamminagain wrote:
is this the only thread on the Jackson trial?... if so, i am very pleased to be part of the RM community and see that no one here gives much a fuck
I don't know if it's the only thread, but I agree with you. In fact, at one point I was mulling moving threads like this to A&E.
Aw, you guys suck! Don't we need to discuss how severely celebrities are allowed to make a mockery of our court system?
OJ... been there, done that
And obviously learned nothing. We need to go over it all again until we get it right.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
towelie wrote:
Actually, I just voted for A&E, but I've changed my mind. Whether or not we like it, it's news.
Sweet! 2 to 1 and the 1 just changed his vote. Clearly I have won! Shut down the poll.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 4:50 pm Posts: 3955 Location: Leaving Here
It a big giant trash can covered with table scraps and the deposits removed from cat litter boxes, because that's about all the "coverage" is worth. I make a habit of NEVER watching that crap, ever since the hours of OJ driving the Bronco footage. Just announce the verdict and the sentence. That is all the "news" footage deserved.
Every wonder if the news agencies took all the money and hours and resources they use for this sort of thing and put it into feeding hungry people, educating children, or building homes for the homeless, (or shoeing the shoeless) how much might actually get done in this country for the greater good of the nation?
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 1:03 am Posts: 24177 Location: Australia
I just voted the way I thought the alleged victims would have.
_________________ Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear, Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer. The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.
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