Jackson's case looking stronger
2005-03-16 13:38
California - A relentless onslaught by Michael Jackson's defence team has left the prosecution struggling to restore the credibility of its child molestation case.
Over the past few days, lead attorney Thomas Mesereau tore to shreds not only the testimony of the accuser but also the claims made his mother, brother and sister.
The hard-hitting defence lawyer dropped a bombshell in the courtroom when he got the teenager to admit telling his school administrator in 2003 that Jackson had never molested him.
Further damaging the prosecution's case, the boy's sister and brother acknowledged they had lied under oath in their testimony.
And the defence team is likely looking forward to cross-examining the boy's mother. Jackson's lawyers have described her as a financial predator who coached her children for their court appearances.
Get adults to testify
On Tuesday, prosecutor Tom Sneddon did get the boy to say he had denied the molestation at school for fear he would face further tormenting from his classmates who taunted him for having been "raped" by the superstar.
Sneddon also sought to repair some of the damage wrought to his case when Mesereau pointed to inconsistencies in the boy's testimony.
But following Mesereau's cross-examination, the prosecution only questioned the boy briefly, before police officers were called to the witness stand.
Legal experts said the accuser's often combative attitude likely did little to endear him to the 12 jurors, and his contradictory statements, mumbled answers and failure to recall key events dealt a crushing blow to the prosecutors.
"Everything he did hurt his credibility," said legal analyst Andrew Cohen.
"The best they could do is get him off the stand, get law enforcement officers in and cut their losses," said Cohen.
The next few days could be crucial for the prosecution, now that the boy and his siblings are off the witness stand - at least for the moment - and more predictable, adult witnesses are called.
"The prosecution is using law enforcement officers to lay the foundations for the rest of their case," said Cohen.
A number of analysts warn that despite the setbacks, Sneddon's case is far from dead, and that the prosecutor likely has some tricks up his sleeve.
"I think the prosecution is following a game plan," says former county sheriff Jim Thomas.
Legal expert Ann Bremner said Sneddon likely will seek to bolster the children's statements about boozing, fondling and fear at Jackson's Neverland ranch with testimony from police officers, psychologists, attorneys and others. Mesereau would have a harder time rattling those witnesses than he did the teenagers, said Bremner, a prosecutor turned defence lawyer.
The pop idol is charged on 10 counts for allegedly fondling the then 13-year-old boy, plying him with alcohol and conspiring to kidnap him and his family and hold them at the Neverland ranch. - AFP
- SAPA