Jackson Trial: Punch, Counterpunch, Potty Break

Yesterday the 14 year-old younger brother of Michael Jackson’s accuser took the stand and made some shocking accusations:

“I saw directly onto the bed,” the boy testified about the first of the two 2003 incidents. “I saw my brother was outside the covers. I saw Michael’s left hand in my brother’s underwears and I saw his right hand in his underwears.”

The boy said he wandered onto a similar scene between Jackson and his then 13-year-old brother at the singer’s home two days later. “I went upstairs. The same thing was happening but my brother was on his back. My brother was asleep and Michael was masturbating while he had his left hand in my brother’s underwears.”

“I didn’t know what to do,” the boy said. “I just went back to the guestroom where my sister was sleeping.”

The boy also said that prior to the alleged molestations, a sexually aroused Jackson presented himself naked in front of him and his brother. “Me and my brother were grossed out.”

The witness also said that Jackson showed them pornographic photographs on the Internet during their first visit to Neverland. “Females … they didn’t have clothes on.”

But today the defense struck an equally powerful blow when Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau induced the boy to acknowledge under cross-examination that the singer didn’t show him a sex magazine that the prosecution had introduced into evidence, and admit to lying under oath in a separate civil lawsuit.

AP reports

The teenager, who visited Jackson’s Neverland ranch for the last time in March 2003, became confused after Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau showed him a copy of Barely Legal magazine dated August 2003. The boy had testified on Monday that the magazine was one of those that Jackson had showed to him and his brother.

Confronted with the conflicting dates, the boy said: “I never said it was exactly that one. That’s not exactly the one he showed us.”

He said he had looked at the magazine with District Attorney Tom Sneddon before it was presented as evidence.

Under further questioning by Mesereau, the boy also said he lied under oath in another case when he swore that his mother and father never fought and that his father never hit him.

“When you were asked if your dad ever hit you, you said ‘never,'” said Mesereau. “Were you telling the truth?”

“No,” said the boy, who is the only trial witness so far to testify that the molestation occurred.

….Mesereau asked the boy Tuesday about an alarm system in Jackson’s house that alerts the singer when anyone is in the hall outside his bedroom.

“So the two times you claim you saw Michael Jackson touching your brother in bed, that alarm went off?” asked Mesereau.

“Yes,” said the boy.

When the boy testified about the alleged molestation on Monday he did not mention any bell or alarm system and said his brother slept through both incidents, snoring at one point.

Damaging to the prosecution’s case, to say the least. Between Jackson and the accusing family, it’s a liar’s paradise in Santa Maria. It will be very difficult, I think, for the jury to sort out who is the bigger liar here, and whose lies are material to the case and whose aren’t – but remember, tie goes to the defendant.

Now check out this oddity, which I have not seen in any of the national or international press reports. Santa Maria Times columnist Steve Corbett writes:

About 8:40, Jackson suddenly turned in his chair to face defense attorney Brian Oxman. Looking dismayed, Jackson then pushed his chair away from the defense table and stood.

….Jackson turned to face bailiff Leslie Avila, who rose from behind her desk. As Jackson seemed to speak, Avila looked at him in apparent frustration.

Then he spoke again.

Annoyance briefly crossed Avila’s face as she started toward Melville. When Avila reached the judge, she told him whatever Jackson had told her.

….”Mr. Jackson needs to go to the restroom,” Melville told the court.

….Jackson spun on his heel, stomped past the swinging gate and headed for the door.

As he passed Jermaine at a brisk pace, Jackson looked at his brother and sharply jabbed a pale forefinger toward the door. Jermaine stood immediately and followed his brother and a personal bodyguard from the courtroom.

Minutes passed in awkward silence as a weird stillness filled the courtroom.

Then Jackson’s bodyguard returned – without Jackson.

This man never seems to let Jackson out of his sight but now he approached another bailiff at the back of the courtroom and spoke. The bailiff walked to the front of the room and spoke to Mesereau.

Now Mesereau headed for the door and, accompanied by Jackson’s bodyguard, left the courtroom.

….The clock read 8:44.

Everyone waited.

A minute later the door opened and Jackson’s bodyguard appeared.

Then Mesereau. Then Jackson.

Jackson took his seat at the defense table where attorney Bob Sanger spoke to him. Jackson nodded.

Melville sat in silence, offering neither rebuke nor explanation.

Therefore it is not known if Melville will allow future criminal defendants to stand during witness testimony or if bailiff duties will be officially expanded to include requesting lav passes.

Sounded like a run for the border there for a minute, or maybe just nerves.