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Michael Jackson Due in Court Today (Arriving at 11:35am EST LIVE THREAD)
Yahoo News ^

Posted on 01/16/2004 8:15:59 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Two months after Michael Jackson (news) learned he would be charged with molesting a child, supporters of the multimillionaire pop star were coming by the busload to join the media phalanx anticipating his first court appearance.

AP Photo

AP Photo Slideshow: Michael Jackson

Jackson, a longtime resident of this idyllic Central California Valley, abandoned his fabled Neverland Ranch after the case broke and was planning to come to court Friday from Beverly Hills where he has been holed up in a spectacular leased mansion.

Busloads of Jackson fans also were en route from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to the rural Santa Maria Valley on a "Caravan of Love" to show their support for Jackson. Several members of Jackson's famous family planned to be at his side when he is arraigned.

With news crews arriving from around the globe,setting up mini TV studios and satellite dishes, the scene was reminiscent of the O.J. Simpson (news) murder trial which became a blueprint for the celebrity trial.

Call this one O.J. deja vu.

Although small compared to Simpson's "dream team," Jackson's defense expanded Thursday with the addition of New York attorney Benjamin Brafman, a principal of the firm that won acquittal for Sean "P. Diddy" Combs on bribery and weapons charges in 2001.

Jackson's attorney, Mark Geragos, announced that Brafman would act as "co-lead counsel" and would appear with him at Friday's arraignment.

Jackson is charged with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. Jackson, who has maintained his innocence, has been free on $3 million bail pending arraignment.

Nearly 10 years after the Simpson trial brought a media horde to the Los Angeles courts, many of the same players trekked 150 miles northwest to an area better known for its vineyards and strawberry fields than its criminal cases.

The feeling of a time warp was intensified by the presence of Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark, standing outside the courthouse doing reports for "Entertainment Tonight." Clark, who never prosecuted another case after losing the nation's most famous murder trial, admitted it was strange to be on the other side of the media attention.

"It's a bizarre world," she said. "It's like everything is turned upside down. I now get to see what the press went through in Simpson. I feel your pain."

Another former law enforcement figure will be working on TV. Jim Thomas, the former Santa Barbara County sheriff who attempted to bring molestation charges against Jackson 10 years ago, has signed on as a commentator for NBC.

Thomas, a close friend of Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, makes no pretense of impartiality.

"I can argue both sides but I have a personal opinion based on my knowledge of the 1993 case," he said. "I think he's going to be convicted."

A reporter for German television, Gundula Koch, said the Jackson case is bigger than the Simpson trial for European audiences because of the star's worldwide popularity.

"It's the combination of his fame and the subject of child molestation. It's a very big story in Germany," she said.

Residents drove by the courthouse Thursday to gape at the broadcast gear — 18 microwave trucks by midday — and TV reporters doing stand-ups on the sunny front lawn.

An enterprising local businesswoman, Lynelle Lowe, bought one of the prime parking spaces, which are going for $250 a day, and set up her "Cool Treats" business, selling yogurt, coffee, hot dogs and muffins out of a truck.

"It's fun to be part of the hype," she said. "I get to meet a lot of interesting people. Let's face it. This is a small town. There's nothing else going on."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: jacko; kingofpop; michaeljackson; molestation; mtvgeneration; popculture; popstar
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1 posted on 01/16/2004 8:15:59 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
FOX is giddy.
2 posted on 01/16/2004 8:16:21 AM PST by bonfire
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To: IncPen

3 posted on 01/16/2004 8:18:04 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs ("You sit down. You've had your say and now I'm going to have my say."... Howeird Dean)
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To: bonfire
This looks like the freakin' Oscar awards. This is bizarre.
4 posted on 01/16/2004 8:18:44 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs ("You sit down. You've had your say and now I'm going to have my say."... Howeird Dean)
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
Feel the love. What idiots.
5 posted on 01/16/2004 8:19:31 AM PST by bonfire
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
Rita is REALLY out of breath this morning! LOL
6 posted on 01/16/2004 8:20:08 AM PST by bonfire
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
Could someone PLEASE describe to me who in the blazes is a typical MJ fan? I just can't picture it!
7 posted on 01/16/2004 8:21:07 AM PST by T Minus Four
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
Jackson's defense expanded Thursday with the addition of New York attorney Benjamin Brafman, a principal of the firm that won acquittal for Sean "P. Diddy" Combs on bribery and weapons charges in 2001. Jackson's attorney, Mark Geragos, announced that Brafman would act as "co-lead counsel" and would appear with him at Friday's arraignment.

Geragos wanted to ask Brafman what it's like to actually win a case.

8 posted on 01/16/2004 8:21:50 AM PST by mountaineer
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To: bonfire
I wonder how much these "extras" were paid to "feel the love".
9 posted on 01/16/2004 8:22:41 AM PST by AngieGOP
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To: T Minus Four
Could someone PLEASE describe to me who in the blazes is a typical MJ fan? I just can't picture it!

Well, some of them are French.

Samya Ghedhab from Lyon, France, holds the French flag in Santa Barbara, California, as she joins other supporters of pop star Michael Jackson as they sing, dance and chant shout slogans during a demonstration outside the offices of Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon, who brought child molestation charges against Jackson

10 posted on 01/16/2004 8:23:14 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs ("You sit down. You've had your say and now I'm going to have my say."... Howeird Dean)
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs; Howlin
Live thread?
11 posted on 01/16/2004 8:23:42 AM PST by mhking (I like my coffee extra crunchy, thank you...)
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To: mountaineer
Oh my gosh, do you see all of those Nation of Islam men lined up? There has to be a 100 of them. They are scarey dudes!
12 posted on 01/16/2004 8:24:08 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs ("You sit down. You've had your say and now I'm going to have my say."... Howeird Dean)
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To: Howlin; Ed_NYC; MonroeDNA; widgysoft; Springman; Timesink; dubyaismypresident; Grani; coug97; ...
MSNBC now showing the members of hte Nation of Islam lined up across the road, all besplended (sp?) in their dark suits, white shirts and ties, all appearing to be holding some sort of newspaper or plaquard underneath their arms.

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

13 posted on 01/16/2004 8:25:00 AM PST by mhking (I like my coffee extra crunchy, thank you...)
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To: mountaineer
Brafman will not allow the Nation of Islam to take over his NY office. That is where all the strategy sessions will be held from now on. I think Geragos is being held hostage by them and needed help. Plus Geragos needed some toning down and this will help.
14 posted on 01/16/2004 8:25:18 AM PST by babaloo
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
Is this the live thread? They are covering this as if it's an awards ceremony. Only Joan and Melissa re missing. Fox is acting as if it's a coronation. Pathetic.
15 posted on 01/16/2004 8:25:39 AM PST by Unknown Freeper
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To: mhking
I have asked the mods twice to add LIVE THREAD to the title. Hang tight, it will happen.
16 posted on 01/16/2004 8:25:42 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs ("You sit down. You've had your say and now I'm going to have my say."... Howeird Dean)
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
It looks like at least a hundred of the Fruit of Islam.
17 posted on 01/16/2004 8:25:56 AM PST by EllaMinnow (I plan to be spontaneous tomorrow.)
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To: Unknown Freeper
Here we go, its the Jackson Caravan on the highway. We have live chopper coverage.

I hope you have your popcorn popped!!
18 posted on 01/16/2004 8:26:53 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs ("You sit down. You've had your say and now I'm going to have my say."... Howeird Dean)
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
Jackson family & defense team arriving by limo.
19 posted on 01/16/2004 8:27:14 AM PST by mhking (I like my coffee extra crunchy, thank you...)
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs

20 posted on 01/16/2004 8:27:44 AM PST by BigWaveBetty (Won't you please, won't you please, please won't you be my neighbor?)
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