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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 11,503
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 11,503
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Quote:
MICHAEL Jackson was a free man last night after a judge spoke the words he had been longing to hear: “Your bail is exonerated and you are released.”
Judge Rodney Melville ended the agony of the King of Pop after he was sensationally cleared of all ten charges at the end of his three-month child sex trial.
As the verdicts were read out, Jackson stood with his hands clasped and showed no reaction.
But as he realised he had been cleared, his eyes filled with tears and he dabbed them with a tissue.
He turned to his lawyers Tom Mesereau and Bob Singer and embraced them. He then hugged his weeping mother Katherine.
Jacko’s sisters LaToya and Janet — who had held hands as the verdicts were read — stood up and threw their arms round each other.
Janet turned to her overjoyed mum and said: “It’s over. I can’t believe it. It’s over.” Loud cheers could be heard from hundreds of jubilant Jackson fans outside.
Before the jury filed out, the 46-year-old star shot them a grateful glance — yet remained silent.
Finally, after Judge Melville confirmed his freedom, the singer was led from the court building in Santa Maria, California.
His hands were again clasped as if in prayer, his face motionless and his eyes full of tears.
He did not speak when asked how he felt, but his smiling lawyer said: “Justice is done.”
By contrast, red-faced prosecutor Tom Sneddon stormed out of the courtroom ahead of Jacko with his reputation in ruins.
Thriller star Jackson, once the world’s most famous and best-selling artist, was accused of molesting a lad of 13.
The youngster, who had cancer, claimed he was abused by the star at his Neverland ranch in 2003.
Jackson was alleged to have plied him with wine — which he called “Jesus juice” — before carrying out the indecent acts.
But the jury of eight women and four men rejected the claims after seven days’ deliberation.
Their decision was revealed following a tense hour-long wait after it was first revealed that a verdict in the case was imminent.
Jackson’s 30-mile car journey to hear his fate — in a fleet of cars with blacked-out windows — was shown live on US television.
Earlier, Neverland staff showed their support for him by forming a bizarre human chain on a road leading from the ranch grounds.
The verdicts were a shattering blow to prosecutor Sneddon.
He had wanted to bring charges against Jackson in 1993 when he was accused of molesting Jordy Chandler, 13.
The singer paid the family an estimated ÂŁ15million to ensure they never talked about alleged abuse or brought criminal charges.
The latest allegations surfaced in 2003 after Jackson appeared in a British TV documentary by journalist Martin Bashir.
The hour-long special, Living with Michael Jackson, caused a sensation as the star admitted sharing his bed with young boys. The accuser, now 15, was seen resting his head on Jackson’s shoulder.
Following an outcry, police launched an investigation — and the boy claimed Jacko abused him.
During his trial on charges ranging from committing a lewd act to conspiracy to administering an intoxicating agent, the star’s private life was laid bare as some of the 130 witnesses told how they found porn magazines and other sexual material in his bedroom.
He was also said to be drunk on many occasions.
Ex-Neverland employees said they had witnessed the star abusing Hollywood child actor Macaulay Culkin and two other boys.
But Culkin, now 24, appeared as a defence witness and denied anything inappropriate happened.
Other boys, including Wade Robson and Australian Brett Barnes admitted sharing Jacko’s bed, but said they were not molested.
Jackson, who had always denied the charges, refused to address a press conference after the verdict.
Instead he was led by his family into a waiting black people carrier which returned him to his palatial Neverland ranch.
The verdict was heard live across the world after the judge allowed an audio feed of the proceedings to be broadcast.
It was the first time he had done so. Cameras had been banned from the Californian court.
Jackson could have faced more than 18 years behind bars if convicted.
But despite being cleared, he faces an uncertain professional and financial future after his strange lifestyle was dragged through court.
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Article The Sun
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13-06-2005, 08:14 PM
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