Michael Jackson arrived to court on time Tuesday, smiling but moving slowly as he did on Monday, when he arrived a few minutes late after another hospital visit in regards to severe back pain.
Comedian Louise Palanker was called to the stand today by the prosecution, to support the conspiracy charge against Michael Jackson. Ms. Palanker testified that she had received a tearful phone call from the mother of the family that led her to believe the family was being held against their will.
Ms. Palanker did not say where the mother was at the time of the call. The comedian said she called her attorney afterward because "I felt that they were being held against their will." According to the report she gave to detectives, her attorney advised her that she could meet with the mother if she wished, but that if the mother was able to call her, she was also able to call authorities.
Ms. Palanker said she met the family at a comedy camp for underprivileged youth run by the Laugh Factory club in Hollywood and began helping them financially after the boy was diagnosed with cancer. She chose to give the family $10,000 to help with expenses. Ms. Palanker was asked for an additional 10,000 only three weeks later. In a detective’s report, she stated that this caused her to become somewhat suspicious. Also, in this report, she spoke of having arranged for a contractor to assist the family in creating a germ free room for the cancer victim. She discovered that the contractor was never paid for the work, despite her having given the family $20,000. She also learned that a large flat screen television and a DVD player were purchased, which she did not feel, at the time, was consistent with what a child his age would need. When specifically asked in the police report, Ms. Palanker claimed that she was approached for monies by David Arvizo or the children, and it was her feeling that, when the children asked for money, they were being “coached†to do so.
Tuesday’s court session was shortened due to Judge Melville’s previous commitment. Court will resume on Wednesday at the regularly scheduled time.
Source: AP/MJJForum/eMJey