Michael Jackson - Not Guilty!

What he is guilty of is probably too much of innocence. Maybe, Peter Pan will grow up after this.

After 33 hours over 7 days of deliberations the jury finally issued their verdict: NOT Guilty. Michael Jackson cleared all ten counts of indictment that included one count of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion; four counts of committing a lewd act upon a child; one count of attempting to commit a lewd act upon a child; and four counts of administering an intoxicating agent to assist in the commission of a felony. 

The Michael Jackson Child Molestation trial that began in April 2004 ended in May 2005. The trial consisted of 140 witnesses and 700 evidence yet none were substantial enough to prove Jackson guilty in a single charge. One out of the four children testified that Jackson molested him. However, Wade Robson (choreographer for Britney Spears and NSYNC), Brett Barnes (a roulette dealer) and Macaulay Culkin (actor) all testified that other than playing video games and having pillow fights nothing remotely sexual ever happened. 

Chris Tucker, one of the strongest defendants in the Jackson trial warned Jackson of the mother and advised him stay away from her. The mother of the 13-year old accuser has a history for conning people especially celebrities. Her biggest drawback was the JC Penny case where she showed pictures of a bruised face and won a $152,000 settlement. On cross-examination, defense attorney Thomas Mesereau, established that those bruises were by her husband. In addition, he also established the mother’s conniving nature by revealing that she was still on welfare even though she deposited a $32,000 cheque from another civil suit. 

Also, the mother used her son’s illness (a cancer survivor) to extract money from celebrities. Among the celebrities that donated towards the child’s medical bills were Louise Palanker ($20,000), Jackson’s videographer ($2000) and Chris Tucker ($1500) although the mother receives medical insurance for her son’s treatment. Actress Vernee Watson Johnson suspected the mother’s genuine feelings for her son and promptly dropped all plans to raise funds for the boy’s cancer recovery. Johnson confirmed that the mother never asked for money but did a lot of heavy hinting. 

The mother and her children got to know Jackson through Jamie Masada owner of the Laugh Factory comedy club. When Jackson learned that he was the young boy’s idol, he invited the 13 year old and his family to the Neverland ranch. The boy and his family received first class treatment including all shopping and beauty parlour expenses paid. Yet, the mother claimed that they were held captive in Jackson’s Neverland ranch. Famous comedian Jay Leno testified that they never asked him for money but the boy’s phone messages sounded well scripted. 

Reverting to the sexual abuse charge, there were some inconsistencies in the timeframe. Jackson first met the child in the summer of 2000 but the boy testified that Jackson first fondled him in February or March 2003 many weeks after Martin Bhasir’s damaging documentary “Living with Michael Jackson” aired. Juror’s were show a shot of this tape where Jackson was seen holding the boy’s hand. Jackson also admitted to sleeping with children as an innocent and loving act. 

Bhasir deliberately misrepresented facts suggesting that Jackson is weird because he sleeps and plays with children further suggesting that he is a child molester who target helpless victims. Based on what? On the fact, that Jackson shares his bed with young boys? There is no law that restricts an adult from sleeping with children. Also, anywhere else in the world, it is not considered “shocking” if an adult sleeps with a child. For that matter, is this a gender bias too? If an adult woman slept with a young girl or boy, would it still draw attention? In many other countries, it is common for an adult aunt or friend of the mother’s to put her children to sleep. They also hold hands and play with the children. Is there anything wrong with that? 

What is questionable in the Jackson case is the testimony of a pastor who claimed that Jackson molested him. Another issue is the fact that Jackson made an out-of-court settlement with the 1993 accuser on the same charges and paid for not testifying in court. Although lawyers say that this particular case is not relevant to the current charges. The jury reached its verdict based on the evidence and the witnesses’ statements in keeping with the rules. Jackson, on the other hand, calls himself ‘Peterpan’ at heart and prefers the company of children to adults. We expected a jubilant reaction from Jackson after the verdict was out. On the contrary, a very frail and shaken Jackson made his way out mindlessly waving to fans.