Jury Reaches Verdict in Jackson Trial
June 13, 2005 — -- A verdict has been reached in the molestation trial of Michael Jackson, a California court has announced.
The verdict -- which could only be reached by unanimous decision by the 12-member jury that heard Jackson's case -- will be announced shortly. The panel of eight women and four men deliberated for slightly more than 24 hours over seven days before announcing they had reached a decision. They had reportedly asked for a readback of the testimony of Jackson's accuser before reaching their decision.
The outcome of the trial brings an end to a long odyssey for Jackson, the legendary "King of Pop" who has been dogged for years by accusations of child molestation. Jackson, 46, was accused of molesting a now-15-year-old boy, who spent time at his Neverland ranch and appeared with him in the 2003 British documentary "Living With Michael Jackson." He faced 10 charges that included felony conspiracy with 28 overt acts involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. Jackson denied all the charges, and his defense argued that the alleged victim and his family made up the allegations in an attempt to get money.
In "Living With Michael Jackson," which was broadcast in February 2003, Jackson talked about his fondness for having innocent sleepovers with children. While holding hands with his accuser, he said, "Why can't you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone." The documentary sparked the events that ultimately led to the police raid on Neverland and Jackson's arrest and trial.
Prosecutors argued that Jackson molested his accuser, a cancer survivor who was 13 at the time of the alleged molestation, after showering him with lavish gifts and accommodations. The prosecution claimed Jackson showed the boy adult magazines and Web sites and served him wine, which he allegedly referred to as "Jesus juice."
"At night they entered into the world of the forbidden, they went into Michael Jackson's bedroom, which was a veritable fortress," Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen said in closing arguments. "They learned about human sexuality from someone who was all too willing to be their teacher. ... Are you comfortable with a middle-aged man getting in bed with a teenage boy as he possesses material like this that excites him?"
Prosecutors said Jackson's alleged actions with his accuser were the latest in a pattern of bad behavior. They presented testimony that Jackson molested or behaved inappropriately with five other boys, including two youngsters who reached multimillion-dollar settlements with the singer in the 1990s. The judge ruled that jurors could not hear the amounts of the settlements.
Jackson was never criminally charged for those allegations and has always denied any wrongdoing.
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