A wan Michael Jackson, trembling and in seeming agony, arrived at about 8:35 am PT for his trial today, five minutes late, suspended limply between bodyguards and accompanied by a phyician in surgical scrubs, before being lowered gingerly into his chair in the courtroom. He then grabbed a handful of tissues and appeared to weep into them.
A doctor, Bert Weiner of Cottage Hospital in Santa Ynez, went into the judge's chambers for a private conference and remained in the front row of the courtroom when testimony resumed 45 minutes late at 9:15. Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville gave no explanation for the delay to the jury and no confirmation was given on the exact nature of Jackson's condition.
This time, unlike the pajama party of March 10, Jackson was fully dressed, though AP says his "hair was askew."
After this mini-drama, the highlight of the day was testimony by Dr. Anthony Urquiza, a psychologist and assistant professor of pediatrics at UC Davis, who testified about "Child Sexual Assault Accommodation Syndrome."
In testimony that would seem to at least partially mitigate some of the discrepancies in Jackson's accuser's story, Urquiza said, "The research supports that they are not likely to be consistent ... Their orientation to time is different to that of adults." The boy accusing Jackson gave differing dates about when the alleged abuse occurred to law enforcement.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen also asked, "Is it possible for a child to have a sincere love and affection for the person molesting them?"
"Certainly," Urquiza answered.
When asked about why kids don't disclose their abuse, Urquiza said it is fear of not being believed. "Lots of times, kids feel like they're not going to be believed," he testified.
UPDATE
Urquiza also said boys assaulted by men are more hesitant to report abuse because they may be afraid of being labeled homosexual, and noted that according to research he is famililiar with, only 2 to 6 percent of molestation allegations turn out to be false, which, on the other hand still leaves 2 to 6 percent false.
As Jackson left court Monday afternoon, he confirmed his back was the issue, saying he was "very much hurt" and on medication "by way of a doctor."
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Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen also asked, "Is it possible for a child to have a sincere love and affection for the person molesting them?"
"Certainly," Urquiza answered.
That might cut to the heart of Jackson's private life over the last two decades.
You'd have to think that Jackson's current antics may be his final descent into hell, no?
2 - Eric Olsen
that (and the money) helps explain the ambivalence
3 - Eric Berlin
I just noticed: he's well enough to put the stupid arm band on his suit.
4 - Eric Olsen
I don't doubt that he has some kind of real pain, but this drama queen-martyr shit has got to go. If it hurts that bad, get it taken care of. He had from Thursday afternoon until Monday morning to get whatever it is treated.
5 - Eric Berlin
It's obvious to everyone but him that he has conjured up his own pain (that he does probably feel, that is).
Then again, it took strong powers of delusion to keep his creaky empire afloat over the last 10 - 12 years.
6 - Eric Olsen
of course, the other side of this is that the family involved, and in particular the mother, do appear to be total scamsters themselves, which has muddied the waters terribly, perhaps enough to create "reasonable doubt"
7 - Eric Berlin
I defer to the brilliant Adam Carolla, who concludes that short of being arrested with a blood-splattered shirt and a video in hand showing the murder, money and a great lawyer are almost unstoppable in USA '05.
8 - Eric Olsen
and the system is set up to give the benefit of the doubt to the accused - money and good lawyer tilt it even farther
9 - Eric Berlin
I'm all for innocent until proven guilty, but it seems fairly obvious that when a legal army gets involved, "reasonable" doubt can get stretched a la Plastic Man's nose when he's trapped on a conveyer belt headed for the bone saw.
How's that for a segue?
10 - Eric Olsen
or Elastigirl between automatic doors in Syndrome's lair
11 - Eric Berlin
With all that time under the knife, I bet M Jackson's got to have some Plasti-powers by now...
But will they be enough to save him?
12 - Eric Olsen
he, or a reasonable facimile, did appear in Men In Black 2
13 - Bennett Dawson
Wow, I'm confused! I thought that Michael is a reasonable facimile!
14 - dee-j
Well as far as I'm concerned he's GUILTY.What type of a grown man sleeps with little boys that are not even related to him,A sick grown man that's who.
15 - Eric Olsen
update added with additional testimony, and Jackson confirmation that his back is still the source of his pain
16 - Eric Berlin
Two to six percent of allegations are false. That sounds about right to me, logically speaking.
And from what we know of Wacko Jacko, what's the percentage that he falls within that two to six?
I'm thinking somewhere between 1% and skim.
17 - Eric Olsen
despite all the holes poked in the testimony of the three siblings thus far, I just don't get the case the Gavin made the whole thing up. I think something happened that really freaked him out, upset him, changed his perspective on Jackson. That, and the other two accusers he has paid off
18 - Eric Berlin
I'm trying to dial back in my head: did people think it was cute back in the mid-80s that MJ liked to hang out with little boys?
As late as the early 90s, Macauley Culkin was in one of his videos (Black & White, I think).
19 - Eric Olsen
he was generally considered eccentric but harmless until the '93 allegations came out, although this other pay-off case predates that
20 - Eric Berlin
It's astounding to think how bright his star was for 10-15 years, how untouchable he was really.
It literally took tearing his face apart and molesting kids to get him to his present state.
He could have bought Elephant Man's bones and slept in an oxygen tent forever and still had millions of adoring fans.
21 - Eric Olsen
even if he is found guilty there will still be millions who don't believe it
22 - Eric Berlin
Yes, I can accept that only when considering the fact that, statistically speaking, millions of people are stupid.
23 - Lora
Yes I agree millions of people are stupid, the stupid ones are the ones who believe that Jackson is guilty. I for one have always and will always love Micheal and still be a fan. I do not believe he did this to this kid or any other child. As far as I am concerned they need to just drop the whole thing, it has been proven on several occassions that the mother is out for money and she has her kids telling lies. I feel sorry for the kids to have to go through life being liers and knowing they are. How do they sleep at night knowing they are helping there mother ruin a man's life. She should feel nad and just tell the truth for once. Think what you want about me cause I don't care, you don't know me and will never know me. So if you have anything to say about what I have wrote here today say it, words are words. They don't mean anything to me.
24 - gonzo marx
the truly scary part will come if he is convicted..
imagine the photo's about 6 months after being incarcerated..
hair growing out all grey and nappy...NO makeup crew following around with a spackle knife...
now THAT is truly scary to contemplate..
Excelsior!