Jackson: Bashir may go to jail

2005-03-02 15:48

Santa Maria - The British TV journalist whose documentary was the catalyst that led to the singer's child molestation charges, on Tuesday refused to answer a string of questions from Jackson's attorney Thomas Mesereau.

This is London reports that Judge Rodney S Melville will on Wednesday decide if Bashir was in contempt of court - and whether he should be jailed or fined.

Bashir was said by his lawyers to be protected by California's "shield law", which prevents reporters from being charged with contempt if they refuse to answer questions on the witness stand about their sources or the way they gather news.

But if the judge rules against him, not only could Bashir be put in a county jail until he answers the questions, but the prosecution case against Jackson could be badly undermined.

Bashir's testimony could be thrown out, along with the prosecution's use of the Living With Michael Jackson documentary - a central plank of the case against the singer.

Bashir was the first witness to take the stand.

When the documentary was shown, Jackson wept as a scene showed the boy putting his head on his shoulder.

Bashir clashed with Jackson's defence attorney, Thomas Mesereau, as the journalist refused four times to answer direct defence questions.

Bashir, who now works for America's ABC News, refused to answer the following questions:

"Did you get Michael Jackson to sign two documents without a lawyer present?"

"How many hours of footage did you omit from the documentary?"

"Are you covering this case as a correspondent who is paid?"

"Before this film was shown, and I am talking about the actual film shown by the prosecution today, did you watch the trial reel?"

- News24