Michael Jackson didn't arrive on time for his trial this morning and an angry Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville issued an arrest warrant and said he would also revoke Jackson's $3 million bail unless he appeared in court within one hour after the 8:30 a.m. scheduled start time.
Time is ticking.
Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr., said, "Mr. Jackson is at Cottage Hospital in Santa Ynez with a serious back problem. He does plan to come in."
It appears the next "Jacko moment" has arrived.
UPDATE: Hospital spokeswoman Janet O'Neill said Jackson left Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital at 8:45 a.m. (PT) It is about a 35-mile drive from the hospital to the court. O'Neill had no comment on Jackson's condition.
UPDATE: Still a no-show at 9:33.
UPDATE: Jackson arrives, walking gingerly, at 9:43
And while we're waiting, what should the caption be for this photo?
(BBC)
Taking a step back from the moment, Tina Brown asks a very fundamental question in today's Washington Post:
- It's hard to know if Jackson will one day be seen as a repellent relic of celebrity culture, or another Oscar Wilde or Vivaldi, an artist persecuted for something or other we can't recall. Even the people who are absolutely sure he's guilty don't want to stop listening on their iPods to "Thriller" and "Billie Jean." That's a question neither conviction nor acquittal can answer yet — whether Jackson will be remembered for the shame or for the art.
This trial will go a long way toward answering that question.
UPDATE
Accuser's testimony resumes:
- On the witness stand, the boy testified that Jackson walked nude in front of him and his brother in the singer's bedroom.
"He was naked," the boy testified. "He ran up there and got something and ran down stairs. Me and my brother were kind of like 'eew.' We'd never seen a grown man naked before."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
Jackson: "I bet my nose will fit in your ear"
2 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
"Tell you the truth, i always fucking hated Home Alone"
3 - Eric Olsen
"How about we audition for Stuck On You 2?"
4 - Mark Saleski
"I'm not wearing any underwear"
5 - banana man
jackson says "what the hell are these kids on!, nevermind jesus juice i want to know where theyr'e geting theyr'e tabs from"
6 - Eric Olsen
"What happens when I pull this string?"
7 - Mark Saleski
"Can we leave early? They're showing 'The Elephant Man' on Bravo this afternoon"
8 - Eric Olsen
(singing) "I'm forever blowing bubbles"
9 - bhw
"You know, the trial is going very well and I'm starting to gain some public sympathy again. I think I'll go fuck it up by acting like spoiled megalomaniac psycho so I can get more press."
10 - Eric Berlin
"I really really hope I'm not headed off to prison, even though I've been molesting pre-teen boys for well on twenty years now... when's lunch again? I've gots to be getting me a fish taco..."
11 - bhw
"Yes, I said barber pole."
12 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
"what if i shake my willy for the jury? it worked for OJ."
13 - HW Saxton
I used to get royalty checks, now I get
reality checks...
14 - DrPat
"If I call you 'Daddy' can I sit in your lap on the way home?"
15 - Eric Olsen
"Sweet nothings"
16 - Annie
"Told ya I shoulda gone with 'the flu' again!"
17 - Eric Olsen
"At least I didn't kill anyone at the hospital this week!"
18 - Matt
"My nose is coming off. You gotta get me the fuck outta here."
19 - bhw
"I'm dying to put my tongue in your ear."
20 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
"are you the president?"
21 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
"honestly, Moonwalker was NOT my idea"
22 - Eric Olsen
"Can you point the way to the nearest tree?"
23 - RJ
"It doesn't matter if I'm black and you're white. Wait, I'm white now too..."
24 - Eric Olsen
(singing) "Just look over your shoulder, honey ..."
25 - Eric Olsen
accuser's testimony resumes after MJ shows up in his jammies