MJ Verdict is in....
Jurors reach verdict in Jackson trial
Monday, June 13, 2005 Posted: 4:45 PM EDT (2045 GMT)
SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- Jurors in the Michael Jackson child-molestation trial told the trial judge Monday that they have reached a verdict.
The announcement came after about 32 hours of deliberations.
The verdict is expected to be read soon. The scheduled delay in delivering the verdict allows Jackson time to arrive at the Santa Maria courthouse.
He has been awaiting the verdict at his Neverland Ranch.
Earlier Monday, jurors requested the continuation of the reading of the teen accuser's lengthy testimony, sources close to the case said. The accuser was on the stand for four days in March.
The arrival of the verdict came as attorneys for media outlets, including CNN, awaited a hearing on a motion filed with the court Monday. Plaintiffs were demanding access to hearings where the court had been answering jurors' questions and requests to listen to the reading of previous testimony.
"Barring the public from these final, pivotal stages of this case is, from a constitutional standpoint, simply intolerable," the media attorneys argued in their motion.
Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville had set a hearing for Thursday on a previous request to disclose jury questions and release transcripts of hearings.
Media attorneys had been pressing the judge to move up the hearing's date, arguing that their request will be moot if the jury reaches a verdict first.
Jackson's attorneys responded with a motion opposing the media's request, arguing that providing public access to the jury's questions, and hearings related to them, "would invade the confidentiality of the jury deliberation process and would threaten Mr. Jackson's right to a fair trial."
Sources said Melville and attorneys in the case have met at least three times as jurors deliberated.
Spokeswoman dismissed
Jackson's Web site said Friday night that the singer had fired his spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, who has been with him throughout the trial.
"MJJ Productions regretfully announces the termination of Raymone Bain and Davis, Bain & Associates. We thank you for your services," said the complete text of the statement at www.mjjsource.com.
Lead defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. visited Neverland ranch Wednesday after a flap arose over who should speak for Jackson.
Mesereau received court permission to release a statement saying that he had "not authorized anyone to speak or hold press conferences on behalf of Michael Jackson or his family."
Jackson and his family posted a similar statement on his Web site.
Jackson fans and supporters have joined the media from around the world outside the Santa Maria courthouse each day for news of a verdict.
The 46-year-old pop star is facing judgment on 10 counts, stemming from events that allegedly took place with a 13-year-old boy two years ago: four counts of lewd conduct with a child younger than 14; one count of attempted lewd conduct; four counts of administering alcohol to facilitate child molestation; and one count of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment or extortion.
Monday, June 13, 2005 Posted: 4:45 PM EDT (2045 GMT)
SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- Jurors in the Michael Jackson child-molestation trial told the trial judge Monday that they have reached a verdict.
The announcement came after about 32 hours of deliberations.
The verdict is expected to be read soon. The scheduled delay in delivering the verdict allows Jackson time to arrive at the Santa Maria courthouse.
He has been awaiting the verdict at his Neverland Ranch.
Earlier Monday, jurors requested the continuation of the reading of the teen accuser's lengthy testimony, sources close to the case said. The accuser was on the stand for four days in March.
The arrival of the verdict came as attorneys for media outlets, including CNN, awaited a hearing on a motion filed with the court Monday. Plaintiffs were demanding access to hearings where the court had been answering jurors' questions and requests to listen to the reading of previous testimony.
"Barring the public from these final, pivotal stages of this case is, from a constitutional standpoint, simply intolerable," the media attorneys argued in their motion.
Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville had set a hearing for Thursday on a previous request to disclose jury questions and release transcripts of hearings.
Media attorneys had been pressing the judge to move up the hearing's date, arguing that their request will be moot if the jury reaches a verdict first.
Jackson's attorneys responded with a motion opposing the media's request, arguing that providing public access to the jury's questions, and hearings related to them, "would invade the confidentiality of the jury deliberation process and would threaten Mr. Jackson's right to a fair trial."
Sources said Melville and attorneys in the case have met at least three times as jurors deliberated.
Spokeswoman dismissed
Jackson's Web site said Friday night that the singer had fired his spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, who has been with him throughout the trial.
"MJJ Productions regretfully announces the termination of Raymone Bain and Davis, Bain & Associates. We thank you for your services," said the complete text of the statement at www.mjjsource.com.
Lead defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. visited Neverland ranch Wednesday after a flap arose over who should speak for Jackson.
Mesereau received court permission to release a statement saying that he had "not authorized anyone to speak or hold press conferences on behalf of Michael Jackson or his family."
Jackson and his family posted a similar statement on his Web site.
Jackson fans and supporters have joined the media from around the world outside the Santa Maria courthouse each day for news of a verdict.
The 46-year-old pop star is facing judgment on 10 counts, stemming from events that allegedly took place with a 13-year-old boy two years ago: four counts of lewd conduct with a child younger than 14; one count of attempted lewd conduct; four counts of administering alcohol to facilitate child molestation; and one count of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment or extortion.
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