Jackson Accuser's Mother: I Never Contacted Authorities

Testifies about fear of being taken away on hot air balloon

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

The Accuser's Mother Janet Arvizo faced her fourth day of testimony yesterday, her second of cross-examination by lead Defence attorney Tom Mesereau.

With days of bizarre testimony behind her, the witness was more subdued as the answered the attorney's questions. One question that was asked by Mesereau was why Michael Jackson's name, as well as basketball star Kobe Bryant and weatherman Fritz Coleman, were mentioned in a police interview concerning allegations of domestic abuse against her now ex-husband. Arvizo claimed that her husband had accused her of having a sexual relationship with the three celebrities, and their names were provided so they could corroborate her story that it was not true. Mesereau then noted that the police report made no mention of the husband's allegations.

Arvizo's testimony became less subdued when she again pointed the finger at Michael proclaiming, "(he) really didn't care about children, he cared about what he was doing with children." The comment was one of many that were directed to Michael or the jury and not to Mesereau, even though they were in answer to his questions according to the Associated Press. "(Michael) managed to fool the world. Now, because of this criminal case, people know who he really is," said the witness.

Despite previous statements made before the allegations surfaced that Michael was a major factor in Gavin Arvizo getting healthier after his cancer, the Mother denied that he had anything to do with the treatment on the stand. Mesereau asked whether or not Michael arranged a blood drive for the Accuser at Neverland Valley ranch the witness answered, "I was responsible for that." "And Mr. Jackson allowed you to use the ranch for the blood drive?" asked Mesereau. "Yes, this is correct," Arvizo conceded, before adding, "He wasn't the only one. Many church groups gathered." Mesereau brought attention to the amount of money the witness received for her son's benefit, citing that she had in fact opened an account for that very purpose. "Did you withdraw thousands of dollars from that account?" Mesereau asked. "Yes," said Arvizo. "And was any of that money for medical expenses?" the attorney asked. "No," she said.

Although she made this admition, Arvizo denied that she misled a local reporter who published an article stating that the family were paying $12,000 for each chemotherapy treatment, claiming that she meant $1,200 and the figure that was published was a typo. The article published an address to send donations, however the witness admitted under cross-examination that her family were not paying anything as the payments were covered by her husband's health insurance.

It has been said that during the Arvizo's time at Neverland, Janet Arvizo became friends with Aja Pryor, the girlfriend of Chris Tucker (star of Rush Hour movies and good friend to Michael) Mesereau asked the witness questions relating to this relationship. Arvizo acknowledged that she had received a car from Tucker, but added that he only provided her with the car as he needed to make space for the new one he had bought his girlfriend. Then Mesereau addressed the witnesses' claims of being held captive at Neverland, "Did you complain to anyone in the building that crimes were being committed against you and your family?" Arvizo replied, "No, but I am now." Asking an obvious question, Mesereau wondered why the witness was able to call Louise Palanker but did not use the opportunity to call the police if she was indeed being held captive, "I couldn't. I was hoping she could," she said. "You didn't call 911?" Mesereau asked, "I have now," Arvizo answered.

The witness admitted that when she eventually spoke to police, she told them that she feared Michael had plans to send her and her family away from Neverland in a hot air balloon, although she claimed it was a comment taken out of context. "I told police that (Michael's employees) had many ways to make us disappear," she said. "And someone mentioned to you a hot air balloon?" Mesereau asked. "That was one of the ways," she said.

As questioning about the alleged captivity progressed, Mesereau moved onto the subject of the Arvizo's going to Brazil. "You thought Mr. Jackson, one of the best-known people in the whole world, was trying to kidnap you and your family, right?" Mesereau asked sarcastically. "All I know is what I saw. ... They were making me and my children leave the country," the witness said. "You were leaving the country for one week, right?" he continued. "No, until they decided when and if I did what they told me," she adamantly replied. Mesereau then presented a flight itinerary for a one-week trip to Brazil for the first week in March 2003 according to the news-press. "That doesn't matter. ... They choreographed everything," Arvizo said referring to Michael and his employees.

Arvizo's testimony was frustrating at times, with Mesereau constantly asking for her comments to be stricken from the record, with Judge Melville almost always agreeing to his requests according to the Santa Maria Times. "You need to just answer the questions," Melville told the witness. "Don't volunteer additional information." Her testimony even raised objections from Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen, who was her representative in court.

Once cross-examination had finished, Zonen took re-direct questioning. The Prosecutor presented photos and testimony from the civil case the Arvizo family brought against store chain JC Penney. The witness had already admitted to lying under oath in that particular case. The photos show Arvizo badly bruised, which she claimed was a result of the beating security guards gave her during a confrontation in which Gavin Arvizo (who was also pictured in a sling) was accused of shoplifting. The incident occurred in August 1998. "They broke my left hand, they hit, punched all over my body. They did significant muscle damage to my back," Arvizo said. The charges against the store were dismissed.

Re-direct questioning of the witness is set to resume today with Mesereau then taking the opportunity to address what had just been discussed.

Source - MJNI.COM