'It's money, money, money'

2005-04-13 07:48

California - From its main actors to its bit players to its overarching themes, a central motif runs through Michael Jackson's child molestation trial - and it isn't sex.

"Money in this case is huge. It's money, money, and more money," lawyer Anne Bremner, who has been following the trial, said on Tuesday. "It seems like everyone has their hand out."

Jackson is on trial for allegedly fondling a 13-year-old boy two years ago, plying him with alcohol and holding him and his family against their will, a charge which the prosecution links to his failing fortunes.

The pop icon's handlers were so worried, the argument goes, they panicked after a television documentary showed him holding his future accuser's hand and admitting that children often share his bed.

As his longtime publicist said in court this week: "Perception is 90% of what the public thinks."

Everyone has a book in the making

So Jackson aides moved to sequester the family to force them to make a rebuttal video, aiming to prevent further erosion of the pop star's empire.

The defence meanwhile maintains that the allegations by the accuser's family are driven by the mother's rapacious greed.

She has a history of using her children to bilk celebrities, lead defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau argued in opening arguments six weeks ago. Past targets include Hollywood superstar Jim Carrey, boxer Mike Tyson and United States comedian Adam Sandler, he said.

The prosecution has taken its time calling the mother to the witness stand and is now, late in its case, apparently weighing whether to bring her out at all.

Jurors might believe she coached her kids to lie in this case, if the defence dredges up too many questionable details from her past, Bremner argued.

Prosecutors rolled out her new husband on Tuesday, a seemingly "straight and narrow" military man, in a bid to improve her image prior to her highly anticipated testimony, Bremner said.

But his squeaky clean image was sullied when he admitted speaking several times with a British tabloid that was offering $15 000 dollars for the family's story.

And then there's the domestic help at Jackson's Neverland Ranch, a gated fantasy world he spends millions to maintain each year.

Adrian McManus, Jackson's former personal maid, has admitted in court she collected $32 000 dollars from tabloids and other media.

Another maid admitted in court to being paid $20 000 for an interview with the Hard Copy television programme.

Jackson, in addition to doling out millions to two alleged abuse victims, has been sued by ex-employees for overtime pay and wrongful dismissal.

And everyone, from his former long-time publicist to the man who supervised his maids, has a book in the works.

"Everybody wants money from Michael Jackson. Everyone wants money from the press or tabloids," said Bremner. "No one is immune from the money angle of this case."

- AFP