Posted on 03/10/2005 8:59:30 AM PST by areafiftyone
SANTA MARIA, Calif. Mar 10, 2005 — A judge issued an arrest warrant for Michael Jackson on Thursday after he failed to show up for his child molestation trial on time and his attorney announced the singer was being treated for a serious back problem.
Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville said he would also forfeit Jackson's $3 million bail unless he appeared in court within one hour.
The announcement came after a few minutes after court was to have begun. Jackson's accuser was expected to begin a second day of testimony against the singer.
The jury was not yet in the courtroom when the judge entered.
Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr., said, "Mr. Jackson is at Cottage Hospital in Santa Ynez with a serious back problem. He does plan to come in."
The judge, obviously angry, declared, "I'm issuing a warrant for his arrest. I"m forfeiting his bail. I will hold the order for one hour."
Mesereau had been observed talking urgently on his cell phone for about a half-hour before the session was to begin.
Jackson has had health problems that previously interrupted the proceedings. During the first week of jury selection he went to a hospital with flu symptoms. But he has been on time or early since then.
If Jacko(ff) can get a doctor to verify his back pain then I think he'll skate.
He probably threw his back out kissing his a$$ GOOD BYE !!!!!
I'll believe the judge is tough when Jackson gets put in a cell for this.
Any of us would have an APB out on us right about now.
-subterfuge-
You got that right. The bailiffs would be standing right behind you, ready to immediately take you into custody. This double standard crap has got to go.
Probably dislocated his shoulder again. Court brutality and all....
You are so right! I knew it was only a matter of time before this idiot started the drama. Now this trial will be fun to watch!
He pulled it before with his "flu" during jury selection. He also pulled it during some civil case a year or so ago, showing up in a lag cast because of "spider bites". He's looking for as much sympathy as he can get. If he doesn't end up in jail for this, I predict a helicopter or plane trip one sudden morning, and a long stay in nations that don't have extradition treaties.... or France.
I hope he doesn't make it in time!
Prediction. He will show up on a stretcher.
Even if they have to have MJ on a guerney, if the Judge asks you to be in court....you be in court....or you're arrested. Period.
LOL! But don't quit your day job.
I love to see his lawyer explain to the judge that Michael had to stay home with the kids.
I'd like to say the jury will never know, but I'll have to settle for "the jury should not be made aware of this."
However, there are sneaky ways of bringing it to their attention if you are a clever prosecutor....
I hope security takes their time searching Jackson before he enters the court.
With the mood this judge is now in, I expect he'd require the doctor to take the stand and do his "verifying" under oath. And maybe also require a court-appointed doctor to examine Jackson and double-verify.
Maybe he hurt his back when he jumped on the roof of his SUV and started to do his shuffle in front of all his fans.
Good idea!
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