The Details and Truth Behind the Allegations and the Trial
Reflections On The Dance
Michael Joseph Jackson Remembered
1958-2009
A celebration of love, spirit, truth & faith. Celebrating his life, his legacy, and his humanity
"Smile"
Michael Jackson
"HIStory Past, Present and Future"
Sketch by sketch artist Bill Robles
Michael and his family listen as lawyer Tom Mesereau read out a statement from Michael in regards to the 1993 allegations against him
Regarding the 1993 allegations and payout
He admitted earlier this month that "years ago" he had paid "certain people" who "wanted to exploit my concern for children".
In a 1993 case, Mr Jackson agreed to pay a boy he was accused of molesting a reported $20m (£11m). Police also learned of a separate case in 1990.
Mr Mesereau said on Friday Mr Jackson had been pressured to make payments by his advisers and by a music industry that "did not want negative publicity from these lawsuits interfering with their profits", when confronted with past allegations.
He said: "Many years ago, he did pay money rather than litigate two false allegations that he had harmed children.
"Mr Jackson now regrets making these payments. ... Mr Jackson always denied doing anything wrong.
"Mr Jackson had hoped to buy peace in the process. ... he should have fought these actions to the bitter end and vindicated himself."
BBC News
Sept. 18th, 2004
Showing up to court in pajamas
"People said I was faking during the trial, but I fell coming out of the shower and bruised my lung very badly. There was a scan done and you can see the swelling. There's no faking this. I was going to court every day in immense pain."
Michael Jackson
You can hear Michael talk further about this in his recorded interview with Jesse Jackson HERE
Interviews with those who were in the court room:
Aphrodite is a correspondent with Fox News who covered the 2005 child molestation trial of Michael Jackson. She is also a New York Times best-selling author as well as author of "Michael Jackson Conspiracy." Ms. Jones, after covering the trial and originally thinking Michael was guilty, along with the rest of the media, felt she needed to explore further, securing court documents and evidence from the judge and doing her own research to come to the conclusion that she had been wrong all along and that Michael was indeed, innocent of these charges.
Larry is an Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker who was hired by Michael Jackson's defense team to shoot video of Neverland Ranch for the jury. Larry has produced music videos for MTV, documentaries for PBS as well as a large range of additional work. During the time of filming, he had unprecedented access to the Neverland estate. Larry also testified during the 2005 trial of Michael Jackson.
"I will say again that I have never, and would never, harm a child. It sickens me that people have written untrue things about me."
Michael Jackson
The Truth About the 1993 Allegations and the Pay-Off
Geraldine Hughes was the sole legal secretary of Barry Rothman, the attorney of the father (Evan Chandler) of the accuser (Jordie Chandler).
"I was the legal secretary in 1993 to the attorney and I witnessed the extortion scheme against Michael Jackson. I came forth in 1993 and gave my information to the investigators, however, when the case settled, it went nowhere." Geraldine on soul-patrol.com
In her book, "Redemption: The Truth Behind the Michael Jackson Child Molestation Allegations," Hughes reveals facts that have never been made public, court documented information, public statements and records that she insists prove Jackson's innocence.
Click HERE to read the interview I conducted with Geraldine Hughes.
“'Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons. The truth will win this marathon in court.'”
Michael Jackson
"I have always maintained my innocence, and vehemently denied that these events ever took place. I reluctantly chose to settle the false claims only to end the terrible publicity and to continue with my life and career."
Michael Jackson
“Years ago, I settled with certain individuals because I was concerned about my family and the media scrutiny that would have ensued if I fought the matter in court."
....“These people wanted to exploit my concern for children by threatening to destroy what I believe in and what I do. I have been a vulnerable target for those who want money.”
“I have spent my entire life helping millions of children across the world. I would never harm a child."
Michael Jackson
I'd slit my wrists rather than hurt a child. I could never do that. No one will ever know how much these wicked rumours have hurt me."
Michael Jackson
Daily Mirror Interview 1999
"Because parents have power over children. They feel they have to do what their parents say. But the love of money is the root of all evil. And this is a sweet child. And to see him turn like this, this isn't him. This is not him."
Michael Jackson
On the boy claiming Jackson sexually molested him, CBS 60 Minutes interview 2003.
The 1993 Tape-Recorded Conversation of Evan Chandler:
On July 2, 1993, in a private telephone conversation, Chandler was tape-recorded as saying,
There was no reason why he [Jackson] had to stop calling me...I picked the nastiest son of a bitch I could find [Evan Chandler's lawyer, Barry Rothman], all he wants to do is get this out in the public as fast as he can, as big as he can and humiliate as many people as he can. He's nasty, he's mean, he's smart and he's hungry for publicity. Everything's going to a certain plan that isn't just mine. Once I make that phone call, this guy is going to destroy everybody in sight in any devious, nasty, cruel way that he can do it. I've given him full authority to do that. Jackson is an evil guy, he is worse than that and I have the evidence to prove it. If I go through with this, I win big-time. There's no way I lose. I will get everything I want and they will be destroyed forever...Michael's career will be over."
—Evan Chandler
In the same conversation, when asked how this would affect his son, Chandler replied, "That's irrelevant to me...It will be a massacre if I don't get what I want. It's going to be bigger than all us put together...This man [Jackson] is going to be humiliated beyond belief...He will not sell one more record".
Source: Wikipedia
The Strip Search
December 1993, Jackson was served with a warrant for a strip search of his body, as police wanted to verify Jordan Chandler's description of Jackson's genitals, and details of patches of vitiligo, an illness Jackson was diagnosed with in the mid 1980s, on his body. The order stated that officers were to examine, photograph and videotape Jackson's entire body, "including his penis, anus, hips, buttocks and any other part of his body". The warrant stated that refusal to comply would be used in court as a possible indication of guilt. The strip search took place on December 20 at the entertainer's ranch. Those present for the prosecution were District Attorney Tom Sneddon, a detective, a photographer and a doctor. Those present on behalf of Jackson were his two attorneys, a physician, a detective, a bodyguard and a photographer. The attorneys and Sneddon agreed to leave the room when the examination took place, and Jackson demanded that the prosecution detective should also leave, which he subsequently did. In an emotional state, Jackson stood on a platform in the middle of the room, took off all his clothes and was examined for approximately 25 minutes, although he was never physically touched. The search report concluded that there were some strong similarities between Chandler's description and Jackson's body, but there wasn't a definite match. Included in the inconsistencies was an inaccurate claim of circumcision.
Source: Wikipedia
Editor's note: I can only imagine the intense humiliation Michael must have felt. Please click HERE to read more of my deeper thoughts on what Michael must have gone through.
On December 22, Jackson responded to the allegations and everything that had occurred for the first time via satellite from his ranch:
"As you may already know, after my tour ended I remained out of the country undergoing treatment for a dependency on pain medication...There have been many disgusting statements made recently concerning allegations of improper conduct on my part. These statements about me are totally false...I will say I am particularly upset by the handling of the mass—matter by the incredible, terrible mass media. At every opportunity, the media has dissected and manipulated these allegations to reach their own conclusions. I ask all of you to wait and hear the truth before you label or condemn me. Don't treat me like a criminal, because I am innocent. I have been forced to submit to a dehumanizing and humiliating examination...It was the most humiliating ordeal of my life...But if this is what I have to endure to prove my innocence, my complete innocence, so be it."
—Michael Jackson
As per Cory Rooney, who worked with Michael at the Sony/Epic label. Michael was telling Cory about his own childhood experiences and feeling as if he was at times denied love, and relayed the following:
"So he said to me ‘Cory, I will never deny a child love and if it means that I have to be crucified or put in jail for it, then that’s just what they’re gonna have to do.’ When it was time for him to stand trial, the first time he went through it, his advisors told him, ‘Michael, this is not good. Pay this kid off and let’s keep moving.’ Second time he said, ‘You know what? All that did was make me look guilty like I was hiding something. So this time there won’t be any payoffs. I’m going to fight this in court. You’ll see. I’ll be innocent.’
Right to the day when they finally had to read the verdict and the verdict was in, I talked to his family cause I remember watching on the news that Michael had 45 minutes to get there. So I spoke to some of his family members that were in the house with Michael. I said, ‘Well, what the hell is he doing?’ He’s upstairs getting dressed. He came downstairs. He said a prayer with his family and he told everyone, ‘I want you guys not to worry about me because I will be ok.’
And he rode there, he had maybe a little nervous energy patting his feet, singing in the car and everything and he rode with his brother and his sister. But he wasn’t worried. I’ll tell you something, I would’ve been a mess. I don’t even know if I could have stood up in court like that.”
Hollywood and the Music Industry abandoned Michael when he needed them, but showed up to support a murderer:
“I don’t really think the music industry has taken a deep enough look at what Michael Jackson meant to everybody, all of us artists, producers, actors, actresses, all of us, entertainment as a whole. I don’t think that they took a deep enough look because everyone is too busy with their head up their own butt. When Michael was on trial, nobody…nobody stopped to go and support him at the trial.”
“The guy is acquitted on ten counts of child molestation. No one said, ‘Sorry Michael.’ No one said, ‘Michael, we knew you were innocent.’ No one did a BET tribute to him then. Nobody played his music and did a marathon then. Nobody rallied up and did a concert. Why should Michael have to go on tour to raise money? How come all of the artists didn’t band together and say, ‘Hey! You know what? Let’s do a tour like Michael did the We Are The World Tour and let’s raise some money. Let’s get this thing going.’ No one did that. Tookie Williams is the founder of the crips gang. You know the crips and the bloods?”
“They were trying to get him pardoned from the death penalty and half of Hollywood showed up for this man. What I can’t understand is like, ok people didn’t want to go near Michael Jackson when he was in trouble.”
Interviewer Chris Yandek: But they show up for a murderer.
Cory Rooney: “But they show up for a guy who executed families. A little girl begged for her life and he executed her. They said because he wrote in his time in prison he wrote children’s books that he tried to turn his life around. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Well, how about the millions of children Michael Jackson has helped over the span of his career? Yet two children come with some false allegations and those two children become the two children that destroy him. It’s crazy. It makes me look at the entertainment business and just say I’m surrounded by a bunch of hypocrites.
Source: The Sony Execs interview
Attorney Tom Mesereau
Widely recognized as one of the best trial lawyers in the country, Mr. Mesereau has been selected by his peers as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" and has been listed as one of the "One Hundred Most Influential Attorneys in California" by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. These are just a couple of his accolades.
Mr. Mesereau represented Michael Jackson in his 2005 child molestation trial and has very poignant insight on Michael, and the trial.
Larry Nimmer
Aphrodite
Jones
I believe people don't want to know the truth. It must be horrible to imagine that someone that was so villified in the media could actually be innocent. Ignorance is bliss and those who aren't informed can make ignorant statements and not feel bad about it. That's what irks me about the news. They know the truth and it's just straight up lying.
Katie Burrell
See her essay in the top navigation bar
"I did not find Michael weird, messed up, or anything you’ve ever heard about him. I want to say that I feel all of the allegations ever charged against Michael were false, and that in my discernment, he did not have the capacity to ever do anything except love children and let them know he would do anything to stand up for them, and help them. Just look at the magnificent work he did on their behalf in writing and co-producing “We Are The World,” and the 39 charities for children he gave to generously. That was Michael. I believe that during his trials he related to the suffering of Christ, and prayed for intervention, because he was being accused over what he loved most—children. This caused him perhaps more pain than anything in his life."
David Pack
Grammy winning recording artist, producer, and music director
I believe that Michael was a great person. He has never hurt a soul. I am happy to have been through all of these years, a dedicated friend.
Michael's long-time friend Dave Dave
speaking with Larry King
"I particularly admire how Michael Jackson REACTED to blatant injustice, sarcasm, hates, falsehood and so on. He showed that he was sad and hurt. But he never took revenge. I never heard a bad word coming out of his mouth. It seems he rather wept than said a curse or cusses. A man’s behavior when he comes under pressure reveals his true attitude. I believe this was the effect of his faith and the influence of Christ!"
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Galatians 5:22-23a
Manuela
"Michael maintained his integrity, a Christian-like attitude, a sense of humbleness and kindness, even when he was being torn apart by the wolves. That says something. I believe that came from his faith in Christ Jesus and in the love of God that filled his heart."
Debbie Kunesh
Geraldo Rivera speaks with Bill O'Reilly about Michael, the competent, normal father and questions Michael's friends and the media, asking them where they were when Michael needed them most
R.M. Daniels explained a similar circumstance where her mother was abused as a child and how her mother to this day has a special bond with children:
"My mother was abused as a child and like Mr. Michael, children are her world. She worked as a nurse on the pediatrics floor in the hospital in town for decades. My niece is 7 years old and my Mom can talk to her like no one else can. She has this special kind of bond with little ones like Michael Jackson did. There are times I find my Mom `odd' because I don't always get why she feels so strongly towards children as she does, but she is the BEST mother anyone could ever wish for. All she wants is to treat children like how she WASN'T treated as a child. I feel that that is how Mr. Jackson must've felt. There were times when I was scared during the night so I'd run into my parents' bedroom and sleep in bed with them. More than likely Michael Jackson never had the chance to do that. I believe with Mr. Jackson being so phenomenal ... so larger than life he was an idol to these kids. If I was there I would've followed him everywhere he went. I'd be glued to his hip.
I can only imagine how these children felt. I don't condone his behavior with having the little ones in his bed especially after the 1st trial. I feel that better judgment could've been utilized on his part since there was such fanatical speculation by those around him not to mention the world (please read Geraldine Hughes' interview for more enlightenment on the subject of Michael allowing children into his room after 1993). And if people truly felt that MJ was capable of doing something like that ... why in god's name did they send their kids there? Kids and parents arriving at Netherland Valley Ranch in DROVES. The kindness and hospitality that was shown to these complete strangers ... they repaid him by accusing him of sexually molesting their child then demanded millions. He (Michael) went through hardships when he was a youngster; therefore, he could relate to their pain that he also experienced at that time."
Michael Jackson, his brother Randy, Steve Harvey and Michael's attorney Tom Mesereau attended a church service together the day before Michael's trial was to begin.
The following excerpt is from mtv.com
"On his Web site, Jackson wrote of the visit: "It was wonderful to be received with so much love today by the First AME Church of Los Angeles. I thank my brother Randy and Pastor Cecil Murray for inviting me.
"God has always been in my heart and a part of my life and my family's lives," he continued. "It is through Him that we draw our strength. As a child, my mother taught me the value of prayer, and today it is still a part of my daily life."
Asked about his visit by ABC's "Good Morning America," Jackson said simply that he appeared at the church to "worship and see the children." One girl asked Jackson if the children could visit him at his Neverland Ranch, and Jackson told her, "You're welcome to come anytime."
Read the story HERE
Do you think that Michael Jackson is guilty?
"No. No, I don't think he's guilty. No."
Stephanie Mills in a radio interview
Stephanie dated Michael when they were filming The Wiz together
Michael attending church with attorney Tom Mesereau and his brother Randy "to worship, and to see the children."
A child psychologist with over 20 years experience, defends Michael Jackson and talks about how Michael DID NOT FIT the pedophile profile
Author: Stephen
Source: The Daily Beast blogs
A more honest reappraisal would be that the crime of false accusation was committed against Michael Jackson. The man was virtually hounded to his death. And from what I can see from the largely rebutting responses on this post, it seems clear the true 'fanatics' as regards Michael Jackson - are his detractors.
As a child pyschologist with over 20 years experience working in more crisis /abuse scenarios than I care to recall, I can assure you that simply participating in what amounted to 'sleepovers' is no evidence of pedophiliac behaviour. Contrary to what most people assume about pedophiles, the overriding personality trait they demonstrate is not their interest in children - but their spectacular disinterest.
They are unable to perceive a child as being anything more than something to be used and dispensed with. This disinterest cannot be masked, it is part of the intrinsic make-up of child predators. There are no 'ifs' and 'buts' with this. Mr Jackson, far from using children, clearly felt great affection and concern for them. He may have over-identified with them, but he did not present as a molester to any social worker or child specialist I have come across.
There isn't a pedophile in the world with a track record of public works that Jackson had. He also clearly lavished healthy love and affection on his own children. The lack of corroborating evidence in 1993 and again in 2005, the lack of incriminating evidence over a 10 year period from the FBI investigation casts serious - if not fatal doubts, on the authenticity of both the accusations and the accusers themselves. ...
It was a clear case of - "well he's odd so he must be guilty."
Diane Dimond, who I only know of from her inflammatory and clearly self-interested profile as a Jackson 'expert' has been successfully discredited over the years, and one can assume blogging nonsense such as this is the type of 'bread and butter' work her career has been reduced to - as a result of her persistent and regrettable misleading of the American public.
This woman represents the results of the insidious 'dumbing down' of American life that led millions of people to allow their views and erroneous belief in a innocent man's guilt to be masticated and served up for them.
4:35 pm, Feb 26, 2010
