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May 16, 2012

Michael Jackson verdict: live blogging!

by Bob Sassone, posted Jun 13th 2005 4:09PM

Update: 6:50: A juror says he is "Jacksoned out," and I have to agree. Time to give the fingers a rest. Time for non Jackson-related shopping and non Jackson-related dinner. More later. Keep those comments coming!

 

Update: 6:45: Question: do you think the family are scam artists and trying to get money? Answer: the thought was there.

Update: 6:40: Has the name of the accuser's family been released publicly? One of the jurors just said it. Huh.

Update: 6:34: Wow, Juror #3. I didn't realize Shelly Duvall was on the jury.

Update: 6:32: The timeline of the evidence and events: it was a concern.

Update: 6:30: Also Kiki the housekeeper, and Jesus Salas (sp?)

Update: 6:29: Question: which witnesses were the most credible? The telephone people. Much laughter. 

Update: 6:25: Question: would you approve of your own kids sleeping with Michael Jackson? Juror's answer: what mother in their right mind would let your child sleep with someone? 

Update: 6:23: Jurors: the attorneys were "a sight to see!"

Update: 6:22: The jurors can't pick one thing that swayed them to a not guilty verdict.

Update: 6:20: Juror says they avoided the media by coming in the back door. [Insert Michael Jackson joke here]

Update: 6:19: Second question answer: we looked at the evidence and pretty much agreed. We had our personal beliefs but we did look at the evidence. Well, that's good. 

Update: 6:18: First question. None of the 20 jurors want to answer it.

Update: 6:15: And here they are...the jurors!

Update: 6:14: MJ has reached Neverland... 

Update: 6:09: Here's how MJ can get some money back: the I'M NOT BAD 2006 Tour. 

Update: 6:06: All 20 jurors and the alternates holding a press conf in a few minutes...

Update: 6:04: Two things that just don't seem to go together for some reason: Lou Dobbs reporting on sex allegations against Michael Jackson.

Update: 5:59: Oh, sorry, here's the stupid question of the day: what do you do now? Amazingly, he had the restraint to yell "I'm going to Disney World!"

Update: 5:58: Stupid question of the day, to Sneddon: do you stand by what the family said in court?

Update: 5:57: Sneddon: past history with Jackson had nothing to do with this prosecution. 

Update: 5:55: Tom Sneddon taking questions...

Update: 5:54: Debra Opri, Jackson family spokesperson, says she "wasn't surprised" by the verdict. Right. She also thanks Tom Messareau, Janet, Randy, Tito, Jermaine, Sleepy, Grumpy, Doc, and Happy.

Update: 5:54: Now the Monday morning quarterbacking begins: what did the prosecution do wrong? That's what every network is asking.

Update: 5:51: Remember Johnnie Cochran's "if it doesn't fit, you must acquit?" We need a rhyme for this case. 

Update: 5:49: Mother of all parties tonight at Neverland!

Update: 5:47: One thing's for sure: the late night shows are going to be extra-worth watching!

Update: 5:43: Understatement of the day: from Wolf Blitzer: "this is not a good day for Tom Sneddon."

Update: 5:41: Debbie "mother of Michael's kid maybe but testified for the prosecution and ended up helping the defense" Rowe says that she is "overjoyed" he was found not guilty. Also: can I see my kids now?

Update: 5:40: Jury wants praises judge/court, wants to remain anonymous. We'll see how long that lasts.

Update: 5:38: By the way, that sound you heard in the courtroom audio was 100 jaws hitting the floor. And maybe Michael's nose.

Update: 5:36: Drudge headline: ARREST THIS MAN, with a pic of DA Tom Sneddon.

Update: 5:29: No, wait, he's inside! (His SUV)

Update: 5:28: Jackson outside!!

Update: 5:24: Statements coming shortly...

Update: 5:22: So what do you think of the verdict? Leave your comments below! 

Update: 5:20: Wolf Blitzer says that California juries are insane unpredictable.

Update: 5:18: Crowd going absolutely bonkers.

Update: 5:18: NOT GUILTY: BLAH, BLAH, BLAH

Update: 5:15: AND SIX AND SEVEN

Update: 5:15: NOT GUILTY: COUNTS FOUR AND FIVE

Update: 5:14: NOT GUILTY, COUNT THREE

Update: 5:14: NOT GUILTY, COUNT TWO

Update: 5:13: NOT GUILTY, COUNT ONE 

Update: 5:07: Judge is reading the verdict...but where is the audio? 

Update: 5:00 Jury is in the courtroom... 

Update: 4:54: Verdict coming shortly...

Update: 4:50: Janet Jackson is with Michael.

Update: 4:47: Jackson has reached the courthouse! He's made a run for it on a giraffe! Just kidding.

Update: 4:44: CBS, NBC, Fox, and ABC are also covering the verdict live. Sorry, Oprah.

Update: 4:41: CNN is showing Tom Messareau and Jackson's team is outside the courthouse. Along with someone who looks like Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, talking on a cell phone. 

Update: 4:37: One place I wouldn't want to be right now? In front of that courthouse. What craziness. Can you imagine if he's found guilty? The panic that will set in with the crowd of sign waving fans outside the courthouse? Yikes.

Update: 4:33: The verdict will now be read at 4:45.

Update 4:27: Predictions: if Jackson is found not guilty, the headline will be "Jackson moonwalks out of courtroom"; if he's found guilty, it will be "Jackson can't beat it."

Update: 4:21: There will be live audio from the courtroom when the verdict is read.

Update: 4:17: MSNBC has an aerial view of Jackson's motor cade. White car followed by black cars. Great, it's like O.J. Simpson suddenly entered the case...

Update: 4:15: The judge has invited the alternate jurors to the verdict as well. Awww, that's nice.

Update: 4:13: The crowd is chanting "innocent! innocent!" I think. They could also be chanting "in a vent! in a vent!" Can't really tell. 

Update 4:11: Michael Jackson's caravan is en route to the courthouse...and a giant plane has crashed in Fort Lauderdale. Talk about timing. 

So here we go: the jury has reached a verdict in the Michael Jackson case, and all hell is breaking loose on the 24 hour news channels. I'll be blogging the coverage of the verdict all afternoon, one hand on the keyboard and one hand on the remote! (Pay no attention to typos - this is breaking news!

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42 Comments

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Emily

You asked for a rhyme for MJ. Heard one today on the radio. If you don't believe the victim... You can't convict him!

June 16 2005 at 1:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wolf

I entirely believed the allegations. Most people simply don't want the unremitting spotlight that publicity brings (and yes, it does) and therefore won't pursue cases. Were the accusers cons? Maybe. But you have to admit that any grown man who says he sleeps with children has deeper problems than any court can settle. I'm certain this isn't the last allegation to surface, and one day the accuser's case will stick. Jackson's own camp, by all reports, was sure he was going to lose this case. If the justice system works, why would they give up hope they'd win if they were indeed right? Again--good lawyers = good case. Ugly truth, but truth nonetheless.

June 15 2005 at 10:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ruby Grace Brown

At least 2 of the jurors made statements indicating their beliefs that Jackson was very likely guilty of molestation. They simply believed the evidence did not support a guilty verdict. I totally disagree with their verdict. One would have to believe that everyone lied who testified for the prosecution and the only truth tellers were Jackson's highly paid attorney who cleverly trashed the mother. While she was not the greatest , did she tell any of the truth? Money and fame talk and this is just another sad example. Plenty of circumstantial evidence. If an unknown had been charged would the juror have given the same verdict? When I see this done, I will believe in our justice system.

June 15 2005 at 2:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kelly hurd

All people have opinions and whether we agree or disagree on the outcome of this trial, the reality is none of us were witness to any of the allegations. As friends or foes of MJ we all must agree that the man has serious problems. This does not make him gulty of any perversions although it would make us wonder. I for one did not believe the allegations. Why?? becauseI see a man that has literally had hundreds of children around him. After paying off the first time why were there never any others to come forward. Greed is a powerful instrument, moreso than celebrity as shown in this caae. Whether guilty or innocent this case was based on a family PROVEN to be con artists and liars and if we are to have any belief in our judicial process the correct verdict was rendered in this case.

June 14 2005 at 10:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wolf

To quote: ________ Some brought up O.J. like it is the same, well both were black, rich & well known, with SUV. ________ "WERE" black is the key there. Quoting again: ________ I think people in California are less at the effect of celebrity then other states. ________ Can you be a little more condescending? Just because we're not in California makes us all starry-eyed? Please. Last quote: ________ I think I know this man has gone through the process, and come out innocent and one must believe in the process. ________ Nope, he most certainly did not "come out innocent." He came out not guilty, and the sea between "not guilty" and "innocent" is a vast one. At the end of the day, all we know is that the jury didn't find the evidence compelling *beyond a reasonable doubt* That's not innocent. That's good lawyers.

June 14 2005 at 11:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stephanie mc clain chuchman

I have known the Jacksons for many years. I was not there, but as someone else said on the board the case was not made. If they had said he was guilty many would be happy. Some brought up O.J. like it is the same, well both were black, rich & well known, with SUV. I think people in California are less at the effect of celebrity then other states. I think I know this man has gone through the process, and come out innocent and one must believe in the process. I put my trust in the process.... "proven innocent!" well he was not proven guilty...

June 14 2005 at 12:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Emily

I heard one of Jackson's spokespeople today exclaiming that MJ had been "proven innocent!" Is it just me or is being found "not guilty" a huge difference from being "proven innocent?"

June 13 2005 at 10:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael Sciannamea

I'm sitting here watching Nancy Grace and restraining myself from jumping through the screen and choking her. Look, you can agree or disagree with the verdict, but her berating of the jury foreman is excessive and stupid. She's a hack, pure and simple.

June 13 2005 at 8:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Guido

Why do they keep wasting money trying to put Famous people away in California? It just is never going to happen -- ever aparently.

June 13 2005 at 8:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stephanie mc clain chuchman

No good deed goes unpunished! Well I hope something was gotten from all this, from all sides. Good Luck MJ stay at home with your own children, never be alone with them. Let them see their mothers.

June 13 2005 at 8:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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