Jacko case: Grave concerns
2003-11-21 12:54
Los Angeles - US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said on Thursday he had "grave concerns" over prosecutors' handling of Michael Jackson's child abuse case, branding a huge raid on his home as "overkill".
Reverend Jackson, one of the country's most prominent activists, said the allegations against his namesake were serious but that he deserved a fair trial in a court of law, not in the media.
"I am pleased that Michael and his attorney appear to be co-operating with law enforcement officials, as any drama or delay only feeds the frenzy." Jesse Jackson said in a statement.
"However already we have grave concerns about how the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office is handling the case," he said.
He slammed the dramatic search swoop on Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch near Santa Barbara on Tuesday by up to 70 officers with "some in flak jackets - accompanied by doctors and an ambulance. This is overkill."
Reverend Jackson also echoed comments from Michael Jackson's entourage denouncing as "completely inappropriate" District Attorney Ton Sneddon's making jokes as he announced that an arrest warrant had been issued for Jackson.
"The allegations brought against Michael Jackson are very serious and regardless of the outcome, there will be no winners in this case," he said.
"In closing, Michael deserves due process, the newsrooms should remain objective and the global community must not hasten to judgment," he said amid an almost unprecedented media frenzy over the case.