Former Jackson Associate Speaks Out
March 3, 2005 -- -- Ronald Konitzer, one of five alleged unindicted co-conspirators in the Michael Jackson trial, says he is furious about allegations made against him this week by the singer's defense attorney.
Konitzer, a former business partner and friend to Michael Jackson, said the statements by Jackson attorney Tom Mesereau leave him no choice but to speak out publicly.
"I've never spoken out. I've never given a [television] interview ever and I would have never done it unless Mr. Mesereau would have, you know, come up with this type of tactic," Konitzer told ABC News in an exclusive interview Wednesday. "Now he's basically putting me in a position where in order to defend myself -- preventing him from spreading lies about me -- I have to attack, indirectly or directly, Michael Jackson."
In the trial's opening statements, Mesereau alleged that Konitzer tricked and manipulated the star and kept him in the dark about what he and longtime Jackson associate Dieter Wiesner were doing as the singer's business partners.
Konitzer, a German-born entrepreneur who carried full power of attorney over the singer's business affairs, told ABC News the singer knew everything they were doing.
"Michael Jackson was fully aware, there's no question, you know, and we can prove that," he said.
He said Mesereau did not have all the facts about what he and Wiesner did for Jackson. "The interesting part of course is he never talked to us, so, you know, I'm quite certain that he doesn't have the full picture."
Konitzer also mocked the Jackson defense for listing his 3-year-old son as a potential witness.
During the first week of the trial, the prosecution also made allegations against Konitzer, accusing him of plotting to abduct and falsely imprison Jackson's accuser.
Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a now-15-year-old boy who spent time at his Neverland ranch. The boy is believed to be the cancer survivor who appeared with the singer in the 2003 British documentary "Living With Michael Jackson." Jackson has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges that include felony conspiracy with 28 overt acts involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.
During testimony Wednesday, prosecution witness Ann Marie Kite, who worked for Jackson briefly in 2003 as a public relations adviser, testified that she believed Konitzer embezzled nearly $1 million from Jackson.
"I think she is watching way too many conspiracy movies," Konitzer told ABC News, adding, "It's ridiculous. All these things can be proven."
Kite also testified that she believes Konitzer may have been trying to wrest away Jackson's half-ownership of a valuable music catalog that includes The Beatles' songs.
Konitzer also denied that charge. "We were trying to protect him, not to lose the Beatles catalog," he told ABC News. Jackson bought the catalog in 1985 and sold a half-interest in it to Sony 10 years later.
Konitzer said he was caught between the two sides. "What I see from the outside is two desperate parties trying to win no matter what. I think I'm just a tool. Basically, I got caught in the line of fire," he said.
He said that despite the attacks by Jackson's lawyer, he said he bears no grudge against the singer himself.
"I found him to be very, you know, generous and pleasant and straightforward," he said of the star. "And I can't say much bad about Michael Jackson at all. I won't just because he attacked me, you know. I believe that somebody convinced him that this is a smart move for whatever reason and then this is how it happened."
Konitzer on Thursday told ABC News that it would not be hard to destroy each and every one of the allegations against him. On a separate matter, he says he has never seen Michael Jackson do anything wrong with children.