The defense wrapped up its testimony yesterday in the Michael Jackson child molestation and conspriacy case with Chris Tucker, and the rebuttal phase of the trial began.
Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville ruled this morning that jurors could view a police interview videotape with Jackson's teenage accuser during which the boy said Jackson had molested him. Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon had made the request saying the tape would counter defense claims that the boy's allegations against Jackson were coached or scripted, and had been consistent about the abuse since his first interview with police in 2003.
Defense attorneys said they then wanted the option of re-questioning the accuser, the boy's mother, a psychologist who interviewed the boy (Stan Katz), and the attorney who sent him to the psychologist (Larry Feldman). Judge Melville said the witnesses should be alerted.
The prosecution had also requested permission to compare photos of Michael Jackson's penis, with its reportedly distinctive "spot," in the courtroom along with a similarly "spotted" drawing of the King of Pop's genitalia by the boy who accused him of molestation in 1993.
"I'm going to deny the request to bring in the evidence of the blemished penis," Melville said. "The prejudicial effect would far outweigh the probative value," he added alliteratively.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - jarboy
wasn't this a hardy boys mystery? "the case of the blemished penis"
2 - bhw
I think the judge made the right penis call. It had nothing to do with this specific case, and it's important that the prosecution prove the current allegations, not allegations from the past.
3 - Eric Olsen
"he said probative"
4 - bhw
heh
5 - Eric Olsen
on the serious side, imagine how mortifying it would have been if allowed. Jacko's poor mother!
6 - jarboy
how does amazon come up with the clever links so fast? (in this case, to a book called Birth Marks : A Hannah Wolfe Crime Novel)
7 - Eric Olsen
um, Amazon doesn't do anything other than exist
8 - Eric Olsen
I also love the "bring in the evidence" part of the judge's line: I picture a wheelbarrow
9 - james mclafferty
A grown up sons penis is definately not something a mother wants to see,oh no no no.:@
10 - jarboy
speak for your mother, jimmy, not mine, thank you.
you picked that, eric? very clever
11 - Eric Olsen
all the writers pick their own Amazon products, then plug in the code - or at least THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO (chuckle)
12 - jarboy
isn't mj's spotted dick (that's a little in-joke for jim) a result of the same vitiligo that turned his face white, not a birth mark? at least that's what it looks like to me.
13 - james mclafferty
Jarboy,are you telling me your mother likes looking at your penis(lol!),different strokes for different folks(what you talkin about willis?).
14 - jarboy
i think you're on the wrong blog, jimmy, but anyway, everybody's mother likes looking at my penis. and can u blame them?
15 - MRBenning
isn't mj's spotted dick (that's a little in-joke for jim) a result of the same vitiligo that turned his face white, not a birth mark? at least that's what it looks like to me.
You've seen it?
16 - Eric Olsen
"We must save the speckled frog and the spotted penis!"
17 - jarboy
well, not since i was 12
18 - james mclafferty
Mr benning:-),That was between jarboy and mj.And none of our buisness,
19 - jarboy
thank you, james! tell him.
by the way, did you have spotted dick for dessert today?
20 - jarboy
Spotted Dick (work friendly)
21 - jarboy
did you see the drudge report headline in big bold red letters:
SNEDDON WANTS JACKO PENIS
22 - Eric Olsen
Drudge is not subtle
23 - james mclafferty
Hi jarboy just getting you back:-).I think were even.:-P,ive got a copy of the drudge report audio tape off the site very low on the subtlety indeed but nevertheless interesting.The powers been off for the past 16mins so couldn't reply.
24 - rp
He drew Michael Jackson's penis...?
25 - Molly
I think it's partially the parents fault for letting their child spend the night at MJ's home, since they now he was once accused of being a child molester. WHY WOULD ANY PARENT IN THEIR RIGHT MIND ALLOW THEIR CHILD TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT MJ'S HOME, IF NOT ONLY FOR THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND YOU KNOW THAT IS REAL!!!!!!!!!!!