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Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Fri Jun 03, 2005 at 01:20:48 PM EST
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Verdict Watch
Day One - Friday, June 3, 2005
Jury Recesses, no verdict.

Update: CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen rates the closing arguments. Mesereau wins.

Update: It's in the jury's hands. The Guardian says Mesereau's closing went "some way" towards overcoming the damage from the prosecution's closing.

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Original Post

The defense finished its closing argument today. As always, the prosecution will get the last word (because it has the burden of proof, they get to have two closing arguments while the defense only gets one.) The jury will begin deliberating today.

[Note: if you are affiliated with any juror, please do not read further. TalkLeft does not want to have any influence on the trial and my personal opinion is not meant to take the place of evidence at the trial, which should be the only thing jurors base their verdict on.]

In my opinion, Michael Jackson should walk. On all charges. There isn't a shred of credibility to the prosecution witnesses. As I've said before, each had enough baggage to sink the Titanic. It was especially sleazy of the prosecution to attack defense lawyers Mark Geragos and Tom Mesereau in its closing - but that's what you do when you don't have evidence to back you up.

Will Michael Jackson walk? I don't know. The prosecution getting the video of the accuser in as the last piece of evidence in the trial, coupled with the admission into evidence of claims by other accusers that happened years ago and for which Michael Jackson was never charged or convicted, is troubling.

The defense was miles ahead of the prosecution throughout the trial. Hopefully, they will bring it home for Michael. TalkLeft will be on verdict watch, so stay tuned. And if the case doesn't interest you, when you see the graphic, please just scroll on by.

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    Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch | 9 comments (9 topical)
    Re: Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:38 PM EST
    hey jeralyn, on purely technical legal grounds, yeah, he should probably walk. jackson's real problem is that he may well come off as having LESS credibility than his witnesses. Having the elaborate alarm system to warn him when someone is going to interrupt his time with the boys, well, that's a powerful piece of circumstantial evidence that could not be explained away. just as one example. this case is so clouded in dysfunction and pure freakishness, it's hard to see how any kind of real justice will be served, regardless of the verdict.

    Re: Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:38 PM EST
    oops, that should've read "LESS credibility than the prosecution witnesses."

    Re: Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch (none / 0) (#3)
    by expertlaw on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:38 PM EST
    It's my understanding that the Queen of England has alarms to warn her of people trying to sneak into her boudoir, following an unfortunate incident with a man named (of all things) Fagan. What should we make of that?

    Re: Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch (none / 0) (#4)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:38 PM EST
    Look if he did little boys put him in prison. if he did not do little boys let him go. but why did he pay out millions to other kids? this would not be in court if he was just a guy from the lower class white or black or hispanic or working class he would be doing time inside the prison system. but also it is a race thing now and the system has no ideals of how to handle it. its going to be fun to watch what the system will do.

    Re: Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch (none / 0) (#5)
    by narius on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:38 PM EST
    I hate child molesters and hope they burn before they die (no i don't believe in Hell). MJ is certainly a freak (in so many ways). However, there are some holes in the prosecution's witness and some of the evidence is certainly circumstantial. I would say it is very very likely that he has done unspeakable thing to the kids. However, to convict we need beyond a reasonable doubt here. I am not sure what the jury will do. At the least, hopefully this lawsuit and may be other civil suits (since the burden of proof is lower) will bankrupt him so he can no longer buy expensive warning system so that he can have his "privacy" with the kids.

    Re: Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch (none / 0) (#6)
    by Domino on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:40 PM EST
    Jeralyn, I do not care about this case. But, I do not have any right to criticize you for talking about it or earning something for commentary on television. That is not my place.

    Re: Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:40 PM EST
    this is a real tough one. I think the family is a total sleaze operation and I would hate to see them be able to win a large settlement in Civil court but MJ is a pedophile and hasn't learned from past troubles how to restrain himself from his obvious inclinations. I would like to see justice delivered to him, but I am torn as to whether or not this is the case to finally do that.

    Re: Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:40 PM EST
    I predict a split decision -- the prosecution witnesses were torn apart, but so was Michael Jackson. A 46 year old man sleeping with 12 year old boys? Just what do you think was going on! I think he'll walk on the conspiracy, but be slapped on at least one of the molestation charges. But hey, you never know with a jury!

    Re: Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:41 PM EST
    My wife was there for closing arguments because her famiy is one of the old time founders of Santa Maria. She was convinced Jackson would walk UNTIL the last week or so. She said that most residents there think he's guilty, love Ron Zonen, think Tom Mesauro is arrogant and talked down to them, and don't think members of the jury could acquit him on all charges and return to the community without shame. They feel they will convict on some counts and he'll do some prison time. I think he's guilty, but I'm not on the jury. If the local UPS man who lives across the stret and is 40 years old was sleeping with little boys all the time, he'd be in prison and his kids would be taken way after the community called DCF, Social Services and the Police!!! Too hard to believe he's innocently sleeping with children and nothing happens! My prediction: Not guilty on conspiracy chrges, Guilty on 2 charges of molestation and giving alcohol to a minor. We'll see!

    Michael Jackson: Verdict Watch | 9 comments (9 topical)