'World is watching' Jacko trial
2005-01-29 09:52
Santa Maria, California - The judge in Michael Jackson's child sex case told rival lawyers on Friday to refrain from grubby tactics during his trial, warning that the eyes of the world are on them.
Three days ahead of the start of jury selection to try one of the most famous people to face trial on such serious charges, Judge Rodney Melville said the reputation of the United States justice system was on the line.
"Now it seems this case has heated up a little," Melville told prosecutors and Jackson's defence lawyers at the last pre-trial hearing in the case.
"There is a lot of pressure on everybody to have a case with such public scrutiny," he said.
"I want to take a minute to remind you all that the world is watching justice in the United States, and I expect you will all carry the burden of showing the world what a fine system we have," the judge added.
Jackson's trial is expected to take about six months and could result in the legendary "King of Pop" going to jail for anywhere between three and 20 years, if convicted.
Hundreds of journalists are already flooding the sleepy central California town of Santa Maria in anticipation of what is being billed as one of the most intensely-watched celebrity trials of all time.
Jackson was arrested on November 20, after a then 13-year-old cancer victim alleged that Jackson had sexually abused him at Neverland Ranch in February and March of that year.
The star has denied 10 charges, including child molestation, plying the boy with alcohol to seduce him and of conspiring to kidnap and falsely imprison the boy and his family at Neverland. He is free on $3m bail.