Travel Agent Testifies at Michael Jackson Trial

Wednesday, April 26, 2005

Jurors heard from travel agent Cynthia Montgomery yesterday, after Judge Rodney Melville granted her immunity on Monday. Montgomery's immunity means that any testimony she provides cannot be used against her in any other case. She is currently under investigation by the FBI for her part in the secret taping of a conversation between Michael Jackson and his ex-attorney Mark Geragos on an XtraJet flight from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara on November 20th 2003.

The travel agent testified that she booked a $15,092 flight to Sau Paulo for the Arvizo family on March 1st 2003 at the request of un-indicted alleged co-conspirator Marc Schaffel according to the Associated Press. Montgomery said that the trip was meant to be one-way but Visa regulations state that any American flying to Brazil must book a return flight, and that she informed Schaffel of this. The trip never happened, Prosecutors never addressed the reason why.

As he started cross-examination of the witness, lead Defence attorney Thomas Mesereau immediately made sure that jurors knew that Montgomery was granted immunity to testify. The witness claimed she only found out about the secret taping the day after and she had seen the recording in an FBI office. She denied any knowledge of Schaffel trying to sell the tape after Mesereau questioned her on the possibility. The attorney asked the witness about her dealings with Michael concerning the Brazil trip, "You never spoke to Mr. Jackson about any trip to Brazil at any time, is that correct?" Montgomery answered, "That's correct."

After finding out about the allegations Michael now faces, the witness claimed she volunteered information to authorities, and that she was even enlisted to make a phone call to a employee of Michael's that would be recorded, she never stated who she called or what it was about.

Montgomery stated that flight attendant Lauren Wallace told her that Michael asked for wine to be served in soda cans, contradicting previous testimony by another flight attendant, Cynthia Ann Bell, who claimed it was her idea because Michael was a nervous flyer.

The witness is actually suing Michael over the XtraJet lawsuit, in which Michael is suing her.

Once Montgomery finished her testimony, Michael's former videographer Hamed Moslehi then took the stand according to the Santa Maria Times. Moslehi taped an interview that was intended for the rebuttal video to counter Living with Michael Jackson, however the interview was never aired.

The witness claimed Janet Arvizo did not initially want to take part in the video. "I believe at the beginning she was not happy to do this rebuttal video," Moslehi said. "She said since the documentary of Martin Bashir, her life turned upside down because of the media ... She said the last thing she wanted to do was to expose herself to more hassle." Moslehi testified that he loaned Arvizo $2,000 after her complaints about her hectic life following the Bashir documentary, but that he never was repaid.

Arvizo was willing to co-operate with the video after what he thought was a re-negotiation of her contract according to Moslehi, who claimed that it was difficult to take the family out of Neverland Valley ranch to shoot the interview. The witness recollected what the Neverland manager Joe Marcus had said, "I believe he said, 'They're not allowed to leave the property,'" although Moslehi stated that he then took the family to his West Hills home.

The witness is actually suing Michael claiming he is owed $250,000 for his work.

Moslehi is expected to finish his testimony today with Michael's ex-wife Debbie Rowe then expected to take the stand for the Prosecution.

Source - MJNI.COM