Jackson trial gets under way
2005-01-31 21:18
Santa Maria - The long-awaited child molestation trial of pop superstar Michael Jackson officially got under way on Monday with the judge calling the court to order.
Judge Rodney Melville took the Bench at the start of jury selection, the first phase in what is expected to be a six-month trial that could see the "King of Pop" jailed for 20 years if convicted.
Jackson, dressed from head-to-toe in white, stood solemnly between his lawyers as he faced the start of the proceedings that could cost him his freedom, career and financial security.
"I can assure you that we are committed to trying this case in the most expeditious way possible and in all fairness," Melville told the court.
The first group of about 150 prospective panellists had earlier been led into the courtroom to take their seats ahead of the start of the process aimed at picking 12 fair-minded jurors and eight reserves for the trial.
Lives will be seriously disrupted
Melville welcomed them to the case of "The people of California against Michael Joe Jackson," warning them that the trial would take a total of six months and that their lives would be seriously disrupted.
"I assume you would rather be somewhere else right now, instead of here," he told the panellists.
"I know no one volunteered to be here," he said.
"We do not allow politicians, bureaucrats or even judges to decide these trials.
"Our system is envied by people in other countries who don't have this system," he said.
When the judge asked the potential jurors who were ready to serve to show themselves, nearly all of them raised their hands.
The judge warned that panellists would not be fully paid by their employers during the course of the trial and told them that after opening remarks, the trial would run from Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 14:30 with only a snack break rather than lunch.
He then asked the group of residents of Santa Barbara County to again raise their hands if they were still ready to hear the complex case that will be littered with grisly details of the allegations against Jackson.
Must fill out questionnaires
"Very good, I'm very pleased," he said, sending the potential jurors out of the courtroom to fill out questionnaires grilling them on their views on issues critical to the case, probably including child abuse, wealth and fame.
Before Melville entered the small, packed courtroom, Jackson had stood silently, his hands clasped behind his back, as he for the first time faced the potential jurors.
About 750 prospective jurors, out of a total list of 4 000, have been summoned to appear in court between Monday and Wednesday to fill out forms aimed at testing their suitability for the job.