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19.5.: Larry King darf nicht aussagen
Talkmaster Larry King darf im Jackson-Prozess nicht aussagen
Santa Maria (dpa) - Der prominente US-Talkmaster Larry King wird nicht zur Verteidigung von Popstar Michael Jackson in den Zeugenstand treten. Das hat laut «Los Angeles Times» Richter Rodney Melville entschieden. Kings Aussage sei für das Verfahren nicht relevant. Jacksons Verteidiger wollten King zu einem privaten Gespräch mit einem früheren Anwalt von Jacksons Beschuldiger befragen. Der Anwalt soll die Mutter des Jungen dabei als verrückt beschrieben haben. Bei seiner Aussage im Jackson-Prozess hatte er das bestritten. (dpa)
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Jackson judge bars Larry King testimony
Conversation with former attorney for accuser irrelevant, judge says
SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- The judge in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial ruled Thursday not to allow CNN talk show host Larry King and another man testify in the trial.
The ruling came on a day that a woman who befriended the accuser and his family provided testimony that challenged conspiracy allegations made by the accuser's mother.
Thursday's decision by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville concerning potential testimony by King and Michael Viner focused on a 2004 conversation the two men had with a former attorney for the accuser's family.
King testified Thursday that during a meeting at a restaurant last year, Feldman told him that the accuser's mother was a "*****," "erratic" and was pursuing the charges against Jackson "just for the money."
King also said Feldman told him he didn't want to represent the mother and adviser her to contact authorities with the allegations.
When Feldman testified earlier in the trial, he insisted that he had never made statements to third parties about the credibility of the accuser's mother, or the veracity of their claims about Jackson.
The defense wanted Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville to allow both King and Michael Viner, who was present during the same conversation, to tell jurors what they heard, in an effort to cast doubt on Feldman's denial.
Viner, also testifying outside the presence of the jury, supported King's account of the conversation.
"I walked away believing definitely that (Feldman) did not believe the allegations," Viner said.
However, under cross-examination, he admitted he could not remember Feldman specifically quoting anything the mother told him.
After hearing what King and Viner planned to say, the judge refused to let them take the stand.
"I don't find any reason to allow Mr. King to testify," Melville said. "I don't find his testimony would impeach Mr. Feldman. I will disallow his testimony."
In 1993, Feldman also represented the family of another 13-year-old boy who said he was molested by Jackson. That case resulted in a multimillion-dollar confidential civil settlement, in which entertainer admitted no guilt. After the settlement, authorities in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties dropped a criminal probe of Jackson because the boy would no longer cooperate.
In court Thursday, King said Feldman told him that the previous claim against Jackson "was a definite good case."
Jackson's defense has pointed to Feldman's link to both cases as evidence that the accuser's family was motivated by the promise of a hefty settlement to make false allegations against Jackson. However, both Feldman and the boy's mother insisted in their testimony that no civil suit against Jackson has been, or will be, filed.
Plans for Brazil trip
Also Thursday, Azja Pryor testified the boy's mother was enthusiastic about a planned trip to Brazil, and even invited her to go along.
"She told me they were going to Brazil for carnival," said Pryor, who met the family through comedian Chris Tucker, with whom she has a son. "I said, 'Sure, I'd love to go.'"
During her testimony earlier in the trial, the mother painted a much different picture of the Brazil trip, saying it was an effort to get the family out of the country after broadcast of an unflattering television documentary in February 2003, in which Jackson and her son were seen holding hands.
Pryor also said that following the broadcast of the documentary, "Living With Michael Jackson," the accuser's mother called her and complained that she had not given permission for her children to be taped. Fearing that the family was in over its head during the media whirlwind that followed the broadcast, Pryor said she recommended an attorney.
Pryor said she developed a bond with the family after meeting children through Tucker in 2000, when the accuser was suffering from cancer. She said she became particularly close to the boy's older sister, who would spend nights at her house.
"It's hard for me, because I really do love the kids," said Pryor, tearing up on the witness stand.
Jackson, 46, was indicted last year on 10 felony counts for incidents that include a lewd act on a child; conspiracy to commit abduction, false imprisonment and extortion; and the use of an intoxicant before the commission of a felony. Jackson pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Santa Maria (dpa) - Der prominente US-Talkmaster Larry King wird nicht zur Verteidigung von Popstar Michael Jackson in den Zeugenstand treten. Das hat laut «Los Angeles Times» Richter Rodney Melville entschieden. Kings Aussage sei für das Verfahren nicht relevant. Jacksons Verteidiger wollten King zu einem privaten Gespräch mit einem früheren Anwalt von Jacksons Beschuldiger befragen. Der Anwalt soll die Mutter des Jungen dabei als verrückt beschrieben haben. Bei seiner Aussage im Jackson-Prozess hatte er das bestritten. (dpa)
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Jackson judge bars Larry King testimony
Conversation with former attorney for accuser irrelevant, judge says
SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- The judge in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial ruled Thursday not to allow CNN talk show host Larry King and another man testify in the trial.
The ruling came on a day that a woman who befriended the accuser and his family provided testimony that challenged conspiracy allegations made by the accuser's mother.
Thursday's decision by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville concerning potential testimony by King and Michael Viner focused on a 2004 conversation the two men had with a former attorney for the accuser's family.
King testified Thursday that during a meeting at a restaurant last year, Feldman told him that the accuser's mother was a "*****," "erratic" and was pursuing the charges against Jackson "just for the money."
King also said Feldman told him he didn't want to represent the mother and adviser her to contact authorities with the allegations.
When Feldman testified earlier in the trial, he insisted that he had never made statements to third parties about the credibility of the accuser's mother, or the veracity of their claims about Jackson.
The defense wanted Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville to allow both King and Michael Viner, who was present during the same conversation, to tell jurors what they heard, in an effort to cast doubt on Feldman's denial.
Viner, also testifying outside the presence of the jury, supported King's account of the conversation.
"I walked away believing definitely that (Feldman) did not believe the allegations," Viner said.
However, under cross-examination, he admitted he could not remember Feldman specifically quoting anything the mother told him.
After hearing what King and Viner planned to say, the judge refused to let them take the stand.
"I don't find any reason to allow Mr. King to testify," Melville said. "I don't find his testimony would impeach Mr. Feldman. I will disallow his testimony."
In 1993, Feldman also represented the family of another 13-year-old boy who said he was molested by Jackson. That case resulted in a multimillion-dollar confidential civil settlement, in which entertainer admitted no guilt. After the settlement, authorities in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties dropped a criminal probe of Jackson because the boy would no longer cooperate.
In court Thursday, King said Feldman told him that the previous claim against Jackson "was a definite good case."
Jackson's defense has pointed to Feldman's link to both cases as evidence that the accuser's family was motivated by the promise of a hefty settlement to make false allegations against Jackson. However, both Feldman and the boy's mother insisted in their testimony that no civil suit against Jackson has been, or will be, filed.
Plans for Brazil trip
Also Thursday, Azja Pryor testified the boy's mother was enthusiastic about a planned trip to Brazil, and even invited her to go along.
"She told me they were going to Brazil for carnival," said Pryor, who met the family through comedian Chris Tucker, with whom she has a son. "I said, 'Sure, I'd love to go.'"
During her testimony earlier in the trial, the mother painted a much different picture of the Brazil trip, saying it was an effort to get the family out of the country after broadcast of an unflattering television documentary in February 2003, in which Jackson and her son were seen holding hands.
Pryor also said that following the broadcast of the documentary, "Living With Michael Jackson," the accuser's mother called her and complained that she had not given permission for her children to be taped. Fearing that the family was in over its head during the media whirlwind that followed the broadcast, Pryor said she recommended an attorney.
Pryor said she developed a bond with the family after meeting children through Tucker in 2000, when the accuser was suffering from cancer. She said she became particularly close to the boy's older sister, who would spend nights at her house.
"It's hard for me, because I really do love the kids," said Pryor, tearing up on the witness stand.
Jackson, 46, was indicted last year on 10 felony counts for incidents that include a lewd act on a child; conspiracy to commit abduction, false imprisonment and extortion; and the use of an intoxicant before the commission of a felony. Jackson pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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