Deliberations Day 4: 20 Hours of Jury Deliberations, Wait for Michael Jackson Verdict Continues

Wednesday, 08 June 2005

Michael Jackson spent the day with his family at his California estate as jurors in his trial concluded a fourth day of deliberations without reaching a final verdict. After deliberating for six hours behind closed doors, the eight women and four men of the jury left aboard two white vans.

With no information emerging from the jury room, journalists and pundits camped out at the Santa Maria courthouse have been looking in vain for the slightest sign that might show how close the panel is to a verdict.

The jurors are under strict instructions to only discuss the case among themselves.

The only snippet of information came on Monday, when the court announced jurors had put a question to trial Judge Rodney Melville. There was no word as to what the jurors asked.

Mr. Jackson, who pleaded innocent, was not in court this week as Melville has told him he could wait for a verdict at his Neverland Ranch, a 30-minute drive from the courthouse.

Mr. Jackson is surrounded by his parents and all his siblings, according to friends of the family.

Fans, gathered outside the courthouse and at the gates of Neverland, also prayed for Jackson, loudly proclaimed his innocence and hurled abuse at the media.

Publicist Raymone Bain said, "At times like these, people are going to be a bit tense and stressed. I am just appealing to everybody to have a level head and realize where we are.

"It is not a circus, it is not a game, it is not a concert here. A man's life is on the balance here."

The defense team maintains the real victim is Jackson. In his closing arguments on Friday, attorney Thomas Mesereau described the "absurd" accusations invented by the accuser and his mother in an elaborate scheme to extort Mr. Jackson.

Source: MJJsource