jalbre6
01-28-2005, 09:20 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/01/28/michael.jackson.ap/index.html
SANTA MARIA, California (AP) -- Dozens of adult-oriented books, magazines and DVDs seized at Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch -- one with the fingerprints of Jackson and his accuser -- can be used as evidence in the singer's upcoming trial, the judge ruled Friday.
The judge also ruled that Jackson's accuser should testify in open court instead of in a closed courtroom with an audio hookup for the media.
At a hearing just three days before the start of jury selection, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville permitted most of the proposed evidence to be used at trial but said the prosecution could not refer to the material as pornography, obscenity or erotic. Instead, the words "adult" or "sexually explicit" can be used, he said.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen said the 50 print and video items that were seized in 2003 included graphic sexual material that was heterosexual and homosexual in nature. The material also included nude photos of models who may have been 18 but looked much younger, he said.[/b
Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. countered that all the materials seized were legally available. [b]In the case of the magazine with the prints, he said, evidence will show Jackson took it away from his accuser and locked it up.
Zonen said investigators found the fingerprints of Jackson and his accuser on one of the magazines but gave no further details.
Jackson, 46, has pleaded not guilty to charges of molesting a 13-year-old boy and plying him with alcohol.
Jury selection could last as long as a month, with the judge and attorneys for both sides expected to screen as many as 750 prospective jurors.
Melville ruled that several items could not be used as evidence, including three books seized in 1993 that allegedly show pictures of nude adolescents.
Prosecutors had wanted to close the courtroom to the media and public when the boy, now 15, and his 14-year-old brother testify, proposing that reporters be allowed to hear their voices through an audio feed. But the judge ruled Friday that the courtroom should be open, adding that he would consider closing it if there were any disruptions.
A coalition of media covering the high-profile case, including CNN and The Associated Press, had argued that the boys' testimony should not be closed.
On another matter, the judge ruled that jurors will be allowed to see a British documentary broadcast on ABC-TV in 2003 that contains footage of Jackson and his accuser holding hands and Jackson defending his practice of sleeping in the same bed with children.
SANTA MARIA, California (AP) -- Dozens of adult-oriented books, magazines and DVDs seized at Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch -- one with the fingerprints of Jackson and his accuser -- can be used as evidence in the singer's upcoming trial, the judge ruled Friday.
The judge also ruled that Jackson's accuser should testify in open court instead of in a closed courtroom with an audio hookup for the media.
At a hearing just three days before the start of jury selection, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville permitted most of the proposed evidence to be used at trial but said the prosecution could not refer to the material as pornography, obscenity or erotic. Instead, the words "adult" or "sexually explicit" can be used, he said.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen said the 50 print and video items that were seized in 2003 included graphic sexual material that was heterosexual and homosexual in nature. The material also included nude photos of models who may have been 18 but looked much younger, he said.[/b
Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. countered that all the materials seized were legally available. [b]In the case of the magazine with the prints, he said, evidence will show Jackson took it away from his accuser and locked it up.
Zonen said investigators found the fingerprints of Jackson and his accuser on one of the magazines but gave no further details.
Jackson, 46, has pleaded not guilty to charges of molesting a 13-year-old boy and plying him with alcohol.
Jury selection could last as long as a month, with the judge and attorneys for both sides expected to screen as many as 750 prospective jurors.
Melville ruled that several items could not be used as evidence, including three books seized in 1993 that allegedly show pictures of nude adolescents.
Prosecutors had wanted to close the courtroom to the media and public when the boy, now 15, and his 14-year-old brother testify, proposing that reporters be allowed to hear their voices through an audio feed. But the judge ruled Friday that the courtroom should be open, adding that he would consider closing it if there were any disruptions.
A coalition of media covering the high-profile case, including CNN and The Associated Press, had argued that the boys' testimony should not be closed.
On another matter, the judge ruled that jurors will be allowed to see a British documentary broadcast on ABC-TV in 2003 that contains footage of Jackson and his accuser holding hands and Jackson defending his practice of sleeping in the same bed with children.