Michael Jackson Case Finished - Jury Start Deliberations

Jackson Verdict expected next week

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Attorneys finished their closing arguments yesterday as the jury started its deliberations on reaching a decision on whether or not Michael Jackson should be convicted for the charges he faces. Michael arrived at the courthouse with a lot of his family, including his parents, sisters Rebbie, La Toya and Janet and brothers Tito, Jermaine and Randy.

Before the case went to the jury, lead Defence attorney Thomas Mesereau finished his closing argument he had started on Thursday. The attorney said the case was the Arvizo's trying to pull "the biggest con of their careers." Mesereau said Michael is not the "monster" as Prosecutors have portrayed him to be according to the Associated Press, and the Arvizo's are "trying to profit from Michael Jackson. They think they have pulled it off. They are just waiting for one thing - your verdict."

"If you look in your hearts, do you believe Michael Jackson is evil in that way? Is it even possible? It really is not," Mesereau told the jury. "If you look deep into your heart, do you think it's remotely possible that he's constructed that way?" he asked. "What they are trying to do to Michael Jackson is so harmful, so brutal, so devastating ... if you have any reasonable doubt about the double-talk, the lies, it's over. You must acquit Michael Jackson." The attorney also talked about the Prosecution, "The witnesses are preposterous, the perjury is everywhere," he said. "None of it works. The only thing they've had is to throw dirt all over the place and hope it sticks." Mesereau accused the opposition of trying to "dirty up Michael."

The attorney projected discrepancies onto a courtroom screen as he tried to show the inconsistencies with the Arvizo's testimony, telling jurors they should have serious doubts about the family according to the Santa Maria Times. Mesereau finished his closing statement by showing jurors 30 minutes of the rebuttal video to the Bashir documentary Living with Michael Jackson. He told jurors if they have any doubt whatsoever that Michael is guilty, by law he must be acquitted.

Once the Defence had finished, Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen started the Prosecution's rebuttal. Janet and La Toya Jackson left the courtroom at that moment, the reason later revealed to be because they did not want to listen to their brother being vilified. Zonen addressed Mesereau's earlier question to jurors whether or not they think its possible Michael would commit the crime, "Why would Mr. Jackson do it? Because he could," Zonen said. "This child was in love with him. This child would do anything he said." The Prosecution finished by showing a seven-minute tape of Gavin Arvizo's first interview with authorities concerning the allegations, "You've just witnessed the seven worst minutes of this young man's life," Zonen stated.

The jury spent two hours deliberating before breaking up for the weekend. They are due back on Monday to commence deliberations. Jurors will be in the courthouse from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm Monday to Friday until a verdict is reached. The Judge told Michael that he can stay at his Neverland Valley ranch until a verdict is reached, but attorneys must never be more than 10 minutes away in case jurors have any questions.

Michael's spokesperson Raymone Bain had a few words for the media when Michael did not, "He's very strong and he has a strong faith in God and the justice system. He is not falling apart. He has been a true soldier in all of this," she said.

Source - MJNI.COM