Did Jackson's Accuser Declare Star as Innocent?
Feb. 26, 2004 -- Videographer Christian Robinson says he spent two years recording Michael Jackson and those who made it into the pop star's inner circle. Now Robinson is finally talking about what he saw during those years and about a tape that could rock the case against Jackson.
Robinson says he taped his own interview with Jackson's accuser and his family soon after Martin Bashir's documentary Living With Michael Jackson aired in February 2003.
The 24-year-old videographer says he asked them whether there had ever been any inappropriate sexual behavior between the pop star and the young boy.
"Yeah. I asked. And they answered, and they were very up front and they, of course, said absolutely not," said Robinson on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America. "All of them, every single one," he said.
Robinson claims the alleged victim, his brother, his sister and his mother all said Jackson did nothing wrong.
'Tell the Truth'
"And just to clarify that even a little bit more, during this interview I told them to speak truthfully probably more than 30 times. I kept on reminding them, I'm like I want you guys to tell the truth. You know, I know how passionate you guys are about this. I just want, I want you guys to tell your story. And they told it," Robinson told ABCNEWS' Cynthia McFadden.
Meanwhile, some of the individuals closest to the case reportedly said the boy's family didn't know about the alleged abuse when Robinson's interview was conducted. They said the boy's mother didn't know anything about claims of abuse until months after the interview was recorded.
Robinson says he felt he was doing the right thing when he shot the interview for Jackson after the Bashir documentary aired.
"In my mind, you know, I was doing an interview to show the accurate side of Michael Jackson," Robinson said.
The former Jackson employee says his hour-and-a-half interview with the boy and his family convinced him that Jackson is innocent.
"Yeah. I can't think of anything else. They were so passionate about it. They were resolute in their answers," Robinson said."You know, I'd ask them one thing and it's almost like they were getting mad at me, 'Why are you asking us this? Michael is innocent,' " Robinson said.
The videographer says he doesn't believe the family was coached to give him answers or that they felt scared or intimidated.
"I will tell you this, the family was not coached. The family was incredibly passionate, not just the accuser and his family, but the other two siblings. There were tears, they were holding hands, they were talking about Jesus and God and Michael as the ultimate father figure," Robinson said.
Meanwhile, Robinson says he doesn't know if the tape still exists. If the tape does exist, it's likely now been subpoenaed by the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office.
Neverland Sleepovers
Robinson says he also may have questioned the boy and his brother about whether or not he slept in Jackson's bed.
"Yes, I think I did … I guess they both slept in the bed, and Michael slept on the floor," Robinson said.
The videographer says he recalls that the younger boy elaborated on the sleeping arrangements, saying they watched movies and played games before they and Jackson would fall asleep.
"You know, they, the families, were very close at this point. You know? So I saw nothing wrong with it," Robinson said.
He says the boy, who had been suffering with cancer, had gained weight and improved his health during his time with Jackson. He says the family told him that they credited Jackson with helping to save the boy's life.
"They all felt like a miracle had taken place," Robinson said.
The videographer says he had many opportunities to observe intimate family moments between Jackson and the singer's own children.
"They operate much like any other family. People look at the kids and think they must be so screwed up, having those things [scarves] on their faces. But when you're in a room with them and they take their things off and they're playing with all the other kids and running around tipping things over, they're just like any other kids," Robinson said.
Ian Barkley, a still photographer who was also employed by Jackson, said he and Robinson were with Jackson in Las Vegas the day before the pop star discovered his Neverland Ranch had been raided by authorities.
Barkley said he and Robinson received instructions to "get shots of the fans" that day. They say it was the last day they had contact with Jackson.
Robinson says he believes the Nation of Islam had a hand in pushing him out of Jackson's inner circle. Robinson said he was upset when he saw a new videographer recording the pop star's every move after his arraignment last month.
"That should have been me, yeah," Robinson said.
He says he believes the Nation of Islam has isolated Jackson over the last few months.
"Absolutely … I think it's, hopefully, it's the closest thing to a jail he'll ever see," Robinson said. "Vulnerable people end up in some strange situations."
The former Jackson videographer could potentially be a powerful witness for the defense in the case.
Robinson told ABCNEWS that he was advised by prosecutors that he is bound by a gag order in the Jackson case after his interview with ABCNEWS' Cynthia McFadden was conducted.
Jackson was charged in December with seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and two counts of giving the child an "intoxicating agent," reportedly wine, between Feb. 7 and March 10, 2003.
Jackson has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.