UPDATED 2:37 ET
After Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen wailed on Michael Jackson in the prosecution's closing argument yesterday, lead Jackson defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr.'s began his final defense of the beleaguered King of Pop.
"This is not a popularity contest between lawyers. This is about the life, the future, the freedom and the reputation of Michael Jackson. That's what is about to be placed in your hands," Mesereau told jurors.
Mesereau attacked Zonen by name, saying his tactics were "abusive, mean-spirited and having nothing to do with looking for the truth."
"They have dirtied him [Jackson] up because he's human. But they haven't proven their case because they can't," said the defense attorney.
Mesereau said three of the five boys mentioned by the prosecution in order to establish a pattern of abuse denied they were abused. "They brought in alleged victims from the '90s — three of them came in here and said nothing happened — because they're desperate. They're absolutely desperate."
Mesereau called the accuser's family, the Arvisos, "con artists, actors and liars."
"This is a family where children have been taught to con and children have been taught to lie. The whole family has difficulties with the truth, difficulties with honesty, difficulties with money — and they've been raised that way."
"They'd like you to think it was Michael Jackson taking these innocent little lambs and corrupting them," Mesereau said, referring to the accuser and his younger brother, "and it's all baloney."
"He [the accuser] was very young, he was very street smart, he had been schooled by his parents. This served as a looking glass for everything that followed."
Mesereau attacked his accuser's honesty, saying that a lawsuit in which his family received $32,000 from J.C. Penney began when the boy was caught shoplifting.
Mesereau said the real issue was "whether the accuser's family was credible," and raged against the prosecutor's claim that the boy's mother, Janet Arviso, wasn't out for money.
"She gets to know you, she hugs you, she loves you. Then she tells you a tale of woe and she gets money."
"She just needs one thing: you to convict Michael. You have the power to make them rich and they'll never have to work a day in their lives." "The first step [to a lawsuit] is a conviction in this courtroom, by you. There's going to be a great celebration in Los Angeles if he's convicted of even one count."
Article comments
1 - Lightning
Thanks for covering this Eric. BlogCritics has become one of my major new sources...
2 - Eric Berlin
I agree -- I get my MJ news exclusively at BC.
3 - Eric Olsen
thanks to your both! I've had some gaps but I don't think I've missed too much that was important.
It's been very strange with no direct broadcast coverage, back to the days of being dependent upon the printed word
4 - Mickey
Hey Eric ,
Great job as usual. So what do you think the jury is gonna decide ?
I think MJ is mentally unfit and should be sent to rehab facility asap. Prison is for criminals. MJ is just a loony.
5 - Eric Olsen
thanks Mickey, and your view may be the closest to the truth. Unfortunately, MJ didn't plead insanity so it's all or nothing.
I think he will not be found guilty of the conspiracy or kidnapping charges. I think it's very possible he will be found guilty of some kind of alcohol to minors charge, which could just be a misdemeanor, and my guess is 50/50 on the molestation.
But of course I really have no idea!
6 - Eric Berlin
I'd pay bank to see a reality show featuring OJ, MJ, M Stewart, and Gary Coleman. They're living in a house, no TV, no phone...
And that's when things start to get real.
(I never pretended to be normal, did I?)
7 - Kim-Mar
Hello,
I don't know what the outcome of MJ's trial is going to be but, I certainly hope and pray that the jury's eyes and ears were open to the fullest extent. If they were, MJ will be acquitted. If these people appear to be lying about one thing, as far as I'm concerned, they're lying about everything. MJ has a brazarre life style but, it does NOT include giving minors liquor, holding families hostage and/or child molestation. This entire case is about money and revenge. No one should be allowed to get away with what this family and Tom Sneddon are trying to do to MJ for the sake of money, revenge, or any other cause. These people have admitted lying in other situations referencing "money" so why are they so believable now? I believe that if everyone prays for MJ to be acquitted it will come to pass. God is not sleep and he will hear our prayers.
No innocent person should suffer the lost of his freedom or anything else and I truly believe that MJ is innocent.
Thanks
Kim-Mar
8 - Nancy
MJ needs a good, quiet asylum & a really, really good shrink, and the Arvisos - especially Mom - need a penitentiary and a guard w/a stun gun. And the rest of us need to get a life.
9 - Nicky
Wheyyyyyy
Michael Jackson is INNOCENT!!
I knew it :D No way could he harm a child! Nope! Wheyyyy Cant wait for his come back!!