In a motion filed in court on Thursday, Michael Jackson's defense asked presiding judge Rodney Melville to allow the family’s past litigation history to be told to the trial jury.
The accuser's family was involved in a 1998 case against a US department store, JC Penney, where the family was detained for allegedly shoplifting. The store "found itself the target of a fraudulent lawsuit orchestrated by professional plaintiffs†said Jackson defense attorney Robert Sanger. The accuser’s mother later went on to change her story adding that the security guards in the store sexually assaulted her.
The store decided against a trial and instead settled for $150,000 fearing that the accuser who was then suffering from cancer would attract sympathy from a grand jury.
Defense attorney Robert Sanger said the lawsuit demonstrates that the woman has a "pattern and practice of using her children to commit frauds".
Jackson's defense team also accused the woman of fraudulently concealing revenues when applying for state welfare. The defense went on to state that the accuser's mother coached her children to receive trust and empathy from people in order to eventually solicit money from them.
Only a few months before accusations against Jackson were brought forth, the woman made a video showering praise upon the entertainer and even said that Jackson was like a father to her children and said she never witnessed any inappropriate behavior by him towards her children.
Yet another leak this time, the transcripts of the April 2004 grand jury which indicted Michael Jackson are made available at thesmokinggun.com. The leak comes at a crucial time in the Jackson trial when grand jury selection has already commenced and the trial potentially only a few weeks away.
Although the presiding judge has warned prospective jurors against viewing news on the case, the transcripts could create a bias if the prospects do take a peek. “A grand jury hearing is just one side of the story that hasn't been tested by any cross-examination,†a local defense attorney Adrian Andrade said. “I think it's unfortunate that it's coming out at this pointâ€.
In another court document filed on Thursday, Jackson’s defense requested that the District Attorney Tom Sneddon be recused of prosecuting the case due to being a potential witness. The defense asserts that the DA was personally involved in investigating the current case.
After a one week delay due to Jackson taken ill with the flu, court will resume on Tuesday.
Source: AFP/ Santa Maria Times/ MJJForum/ eMJey