Attorneys Start Case of Defense for Michael Jackson

Witnesses take stand following Judge's refusal of acquittal

Friday, May 06, 2005

Immediately following Judge Rodney Melville's decision to refuse a Defence request for an acquittal yesterday, a case in the defence of Michael Jackson commenced with two witnesses taking the stand.

Defence attorney Robert Sanger and Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon argued over the Defence motion for a judgement to have Michael acquitted of all charges because they believe the Prosecution were not able to prove their case before the Judge made his decision. Once the request was denied, the Defence called celebrity choreographer Wade Robson to the stand. Robson, now 22, is one of the children that the Prosecution claim was molested as a child while staying at Neverland Valley ranch over a decade ago.

"Mr. Robson, did Michael Jackson ever molest you at any time?" asked lead Defence attorney Thomas Mesereau. "Absolutely not," Robson said. "Did he ever touch you in a sexual way?" asked the attorney. "No, not ever," said the witness. "Did Michael Jackson ever touch your body inappropriately at any time?" asked Mesereau. "No," said Robson. When asked about claims that Prosecution witness, former maid Blanca Francia, made about him showering with Michael, Robson denied anything like that ever occurred.

The witness claimed that he had slept in the same bed as Michael on about 20 different occasions, according to the Associated Press. When asked what happened when he stayed with Michael, Robson said they played video games and watched movies. "We have pillow fights every now and again," he said. On cross-examination, Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen speculated that molestation could have occurred without Robson's knowledge, "What you're really telling us is that nothing happened while you were awake." Robson retorted, "I'm telling you nothing happened," said the witness. "I think something like that would wake me up."

Zonen showed two books to the witness, one of which displayed pictures of children nude. Asked if he would be concerned about a man who owned such a book sharing a bed with a young boy, Robson responded, "No," he continued, "To me it's not a pornographic book. It's just a book." The Prosecutor shen showed Robson a book that contained images depicting men in sexual acts, "Would you be concerned with a man who possesses that book crawling into bed with a 10-year-old boy?" he asked. After a pause, the witness quietly answered, "Yes." However Robson said he would no longer be concerned about the book if he knew about the collection of heterosexual magazines such as Playboy and Hustler when asked by Mesereau during re-direct questioning. Mesereau also pointed out a woman in the courtroom as Robson's fiancée and the witness confirmed he was heterosexual.

The next witness to take the stand for the Defence was Brett Barnes, who had also shared a bed with Michael as a child. The witness, now 23, claimed he did so about 10 times and denied ever being inappropriately touched by Michael. "If he had I wouldn't be here right now," Barnes said. He added, "I wouldn't stand for it." The witness stated that the different occasions were from the ago of 9 to 19, and he even stayed at Neverland the night before according to the Santa Maria Times. When asked, the witness displayed his unhappiness at the fact Prosecutors had made these claims at all, "I'm very mad about that," Barnes said. "They're pulling my name through the dirt, and I'm really, really not happy about it."

Duriong cross-examination, Zonen asked, "Why don't you still sleep with Michael Jackson?" Barnes replied, "He's got kids now." Zonen also asked the witness if he remembered any occasions where Michael kissed him on the cheek or forehead, "I can't really remember these things," he replied.

The Defence case is to continue today, with the Mothers and siblings of Robson and Barnes expected to take the stand. Macauley Culkin is also expected in the near future.

Source - MJNI.COM