June Chandler Testifies at Michael Jackson Trial

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

The Mother of the 1993 Accuser Jordan Chandler took the stand yesterday to testify her son's relationship with Michael Jackson. Before she testified, Bob Jones - a long time employee of Michael who was recently fired - took the stand as a Prosecution witness. However Jones did not testify to Prosecutor Gordon Auchincloss's satisfaction. The Prosecution had hoped that Jones would state under oath that he saw Michael lick the head of Jordan Chandler on a flight in 1993, however when asked if he witnessed this he answered, "No, sir."

Auchincloss then followed that answer by asking Jones if he ever stated during an interview with the Prosecutor and a sheriff's investigator that he saw the alleged incident, "I was very adamant in saying I was not sure," Jones said according to the Associated Press. "I don't recall anything about licking. ... I don't recall ever seeing any head licking."

Jones is currently trying to broker a deal to publish a book he has co-written with Stacey Brown about his many years of employment by Michael. Auchincloss read out passages of the book, which implied he witnessed inappropriate behaviour between Michael and Jordan Chandler in 1993. However, under cross-examination by lead Defence attorney Thomas Mesereau, Jones admitted that Brown wrote the passages and he checks them for accuracy and that the passage Auchincloss had read out was not accurate. "When you were dealing with your co-writer and publisher you were not under oath, and of course today you are," Mesereau said. Jones agreed.

Brown was next to take the stand, he testified about the accuracy of the passages of the book he had co-written with Jones as well as emails that had been sent about the passages. Auchincloss asked if Jones dismissing answers on the stand have anything to do with his recent lack of financial trouble, Brown agreed. "So you mean that when Mr. Jones needed the money, there was licking, but when he didn't need it, there wasn't any?" Mesereau asked.

Once Brown's testimony finished, June Chandler was next to testify. She admitted that she has not spoken to her son (who is now 25) in eleven years, which she claims is not her choice. Chandler stated that Michael slept in the same bed as her son repeatedly in 1993 even though she had initial reservations. She testified that when she originally turned down a request to let Michael sleep in the same bed as her son, he got upset. "He was sobbing and crying, shaking and trembling," she said. "He said, 'You don't trust me? We're a family. ... (Jordan) is having fun. Why can't he sleep in my bed? There's nothing wrong. There's nothing going on."' Chandler claimed this was during a trip to Las Vegas at the Mirage hotel, which they travelled to in Las Vegas pioneer Steve Wynn's jet.

The Prosecution claim that Michael has a "pattern" of bribing his accusers and their families, Chandler stated under questioning by Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon that the day after letting her son sleep in the same bed as Michael she received a gold bracelet. As well as going to Neverland Valley ranch, Las Vegas and Disneyland, the family were also taken to Monaco for the World Music Awards. Chandler said that she was "given (Michael's) credit card" to go shopping with her daughter. She said she was also later given a ring, a pair of earrings, a necklace and a $7,000 gift certificate for a Hollywood boutique as gifts.

Michael was said to be repeatedly shaking his head during Chandler's testimony according to the news-press, and often whispering to his attorneys.

During cross-examination, Mesereau asked Chandler about the lawsuit in which her son as well as her and her ex-husband received a financial settlement as well as the fact that Michael counter-sued them for extortion. She claimed to know nothing about it. "When you filed the lawsuit, your attorney was threatening to ruin Mr. Jackson's music deals, correct?" Mesereau asked. "I don't recall," she answered. The witness denied that she asked Michael for $4 million because they were $5 million in debt. She also denied that she went to an attorney before going to the police with her son's allegations, "Your strategy was to negotiate a settlement before ever contacting authorities, correct?" asked Mesereau. "There was no strategy. Sorry," Chandler responded.

Mesereau noted that during an interview with Los Angeles Prosecutors in 1993 Chandler stated, "Michael Jackson wasn't the superstar. He was a regular person. We couldn't believe how nice he was," and that "when Michael Jackson is not working, he's a lonely person." Mesereau went on, "And did you ever tell the Los Angeles District Attorney that your ex-husband said the relationship with Michael was a wonderful means for (Jordan) to not have to worry for the rest of his life?" he asked. "Yes," Chandler replied.

June Chandler did not describe witnessing any acts of the alleged molestation on her son, who has refused to testify to verify any claims made.

Before the day ended, Duane Swingler - who was House Manager at Neverland for five weeks in the summer of 2003 - took the stand according to FOX News. His testimony took a blow when he admitted, "I was going to cash in like everyone else."

Prosecutor Ron Zonen told the court at the day's end that Janet Arvizo - the current Accuser's Mother - could be called to testify as early as today or Wednesday if legal matters concerning her testimony are resolved by then. June Chandler is expected to be the last witness called by Prosecutors testifying about alleged "prior bad acts".

Source - MJNI.COM