Mesereau Calls Prosecution Vindictive
Date 2004/12/21 10:04:00 | Topic: Michael Jackson's Arrest
| Mesereau Calls Prosecution 'Vindictive'
Tuesday, 21 December 2004
SANTA MARIA, CA - Today Santa Maria Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville denied bids by Michael Jackson's lawyers to throw out the charges against him or delay his trial by six weeks. Attorneys for Michael Jackson argued that a grand jury indictment should be dismissed due to "outrageous government conduct" by the chief prosecutor, who they claimed was engaged in a personal witch-hunt against Jackson.
Attorney Tom Mesereau, outlined a series of prosecutorial misconduct ranging from more than one hundred search warrants to the expenditure of county funds greater than any murder, white-collar crime, or criminal case in the history of Santa Barbara County.
Mr. Mesereau pointed out that the prosecution has searched Michael Jackson’s home 5 times in the last 11 years. Recently, 70 sheriffs showed up for the search of Mr. Jackson’s home. “They have invaded every bit of his privacy that they can.” Mr. Mesereau concludes.
He informed the court that District Attorney Tom Sneddon had even traveled to Australia to find victims, without success, and ultimately, chose complaining witnesses who have made similar claims to make money in the past. It was pointed out by Mr. Jackson’s attorneys that the complaining family had engaged in questionable welfare transactions and fundraising to raise money to pay non-existent medical expenses and that the court had in its possession reports from Mr. Jackson’s motion for mental examination that showed the family had engaged in similar schemes to obtain money in the past.
It was noted in today’s court session that the accuser’s father has repeatedly said that the accuser’s mother makes her children say what she wants and scripts their words. It was stated that she has accused an employee of a well-known company of sexually abuse and accused the children’s father of sexually molesting her daughter.
Attorneys for Mr. Jackson added that the complaining family had used Los Angeles Newsman, Fritz Coleman, to assist in fund-raisers where the collected money had then disappeared.
The evidence, thus far disclosed by the defense, shows the accuser’s mother praying to the ceiling when she testified in court, her inability to answer the most simple of questions and an apparent unwillingness to answer most other questions. The defense attorneys informed the court that the accuser’s mother had coached her children to create stories in the past and stated that the prosecution was ignoring the fact that the same thing was happening in this case.
It was again set forth that the dates and times of the alleged offenses have changed between the original complaint and the grand jury indictment.
Mr. Mesereau reminded the prosecution that they will have to explain that discrepancy. He continually noted that the prosecution has major credibility problems stemming from inconsistent and contradictory statements to fraudulent behavior.
Mr. Mesereau showed that the accuser’s mother had previously signed a document where she admitted investigating possible claims against Michael Jackson before she had even met him.
Other statements made by the accuser’s mother that were mentioned in court today include her claim that she was falsely imprisoned at Neverland and then admitted to returning numerous times as well as her assertion that she was falsely imprisoned at the Calabasas Inn where she, apparently, had a body wax and went on a shopping spree, all paid for by Michael Jackson.
Mr. Mesereau expressed that the prosecution does not have a case, which explains why they are using so many resources and people, using sheer aggression to make up for the obvious credibility problems.
"There has never been a child molestation case in this county pursued at this level." Mr. Mesereau said. "This is being done because Mr. Sneddon wants glory and doesn't like Michael Jackson."
The defense called for a dismissal of the charges because of a vindictive and outrageous prosecution, arguing that District Attorney Tom Sneddon had become carried away by his desire to bring down a celebrity.
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The defense team also argued in a separate motion that they needed more time to go through some 22,000 pages of evidence.
Santa Maria Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville rejected a delay in the trial, scheduled for Jan. 31, saying that it would amount to "a huge step backwards."
"If I continue this case for three months, we'll have 90 more search warrants and 90 more motions," Melville said, adding that the court will begin summoning jurors next week.
The defense has argued that the prosecution had been slow in turning over discovery material that needed analysis, and that its witness list included people who did not exist.
Mr. Jackson was not in court for today's hearings. When the judge refused the bids of the defense, Mr. Sneddon immediately asked when Michael Jackson would first be required to appear in court.
Mr. Jackson will be required to attend when jury selection begins in January.
- Information from: www.mjjsource.com
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