Posted on 06/08/2005 3:14:42 PM PDT by SkyPilot
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - In an unusual development with jury deliberations under way, the judge in the Michael Jackson case planned to release a statement Wednesday. The subject of the statement and the timing of its release were not immediately known.
The jury in Jackson's child molestation case ended deliberations for the day around 2:30 p.m. They finished and left the courthouse minutes after the plan to issue a statement was announced.
Word that the statement was planned came after attorneys on both sides met in chambers with Judge Rodney S. Melville, said Peter Shaplen, the news media pool coordinator for the trial.
The jury has now finished three full days of deliberations on the child molestation charges that could send the pop star to prison. The panel meets daily from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with three 10-minute breaks.
The defendant remained away from the courthouse Wednesday but his longtime friend, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, came by to advocate on his behalf before the news media.
Rev. Jackson charged that the jury was being subjected to "psychological warfare" because of a television report in which a former Santa Barbara County sheriff showed a jail where the singer might go if convicted and immediately ordered into custody.
"One might call it a kind of psychological warfare," Rev. Jackson said. "With an unsequestered jury, they are saying here is where he will stay."
In the Tuesday report, former sheriff Jim Thomas, a consultant for NBC, appeared at the main jail in Santa Barbara with MSNBC host Dan Abrams. Thomas showed Abrams the outside of the jail and talked about what would happen if Jackson is convicted and taken there. Pool video footage of the inside of the jail was shown.
Asked if the defendant was upset by the visuals of the jail, Rev. Jackson said, "He's not watching television."
Thomas responded to the Rev. Jackson's statements Wednesday, saying, "I think the jurors are quite capable of figuring out where he'll go, if he's convicted, without my help." The jury has been ordered to avoid all news reports on the trial.
Rev. Jackson said he spent four hours with the pop star Tuesday. He said the singer's parents, brothers and sisters were with him at his Neverland ranch.
"I came here as his friend and minister," he said. "I've known Michael since he was 8 years old. When people's backs are against the wall they turn to God."
The 46-year-old Jackson is charged with molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2003, giving him wine, and conspiracy involving an effort to hold the boy and his family against their will to get them to rebut a damaging documentary about Jackson.
That's Jesse "where 'da camra" Jackson. Right?
Yes, it's true. Dan Abrams on MSNBC read the statement about ten minutes ago. A lot of silliness.
"One might call it a kind of psychological warfare," Rev. Jackson said. "With an unsequestered jury, they are saying here is where he will stay."
Seeing the prison cell might make the jury more inclined to acquit (to avoid hurting poor Michael). What say you then, Revvvvrend Jackson?
/tin foil hat off
Je$$e i$n't a$$ociating with and lending hi$ good name to an accu$ed homo$exual pedophile for free, i$ he? Doe$n't make $en$e.....
I was wondering the same thing
When I was on a jury .. we couldn' leave to the court house closed at 5 pm
If I was anywhere near Jacko I would have my back against the wall.
I think Jackson is gone...there are no photos of him since deliberations began last Thursday
When I was on a jury in NYC, we got started around 10:30,breaked for lunch at noon til one, and then probably deliberated til 3:30.
These jurors at least start at 8:30 am. No way would the courts here have their act together to get started that early.
http://mjjsource.com/main/index.php?option=com_frontpage&id=1&Itemid=32
I have not authorized anyone to speak or hold any press conferences on behalf of Michael Jackson or his family.
A gag order is in effect which the defense team will continue to honor.
Thomas Mesereau
here's my legal question: if jackson had testified, could the judge have ordered him to use his real voice?
He's still around. I heard on the news on the radio this morning that police are constantly tailing him and keeping an eye on his plane (just in case). They also said it's not looking good for Jackson, if he was to be acquitted, they thought the jury would have decided by now.
I'm guessing it's either a hung jury or guilty and I'm leaning to a hung jury. I certainly hope not! Make a decision, one way or the other.
There is no money to pay the overtime for the bayliffs; that's why the jury isn't sequestered.
I keep wondering if the jurors are watching TV and reading about the Jackson case. My guess is they are.
The Picture of Dorian Jackson would be interesting to see.
I imagine he must still be there however there have numerous decoy caravans in the past few days and who knows how many exits and/or "camo" cars there are at Neverland? Remember last Thursday was the last day he was REQUIRED to be in court. I don't think I've seen any photos of him since then.
Just a minute ago, someone reported that Jay Leno did a skit about the judge losing his gavel and the next day in court, the judge said, "Has anybody see my gavel," and some of the jurors laughed.
Hmm...
Generally, though, we'll get an hour off for lunch.
I don't know. The whole situation is so tense . I'd probably cracking a joke or two out of nerves.
The fact that they are still deliberating says to me they are taking this seriously.
Didn't the OJ jury return a verdict in less than an hour ?
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