Testimony in the Michael Jackson trial returned to focus on the current allegations against the singer following six days of testimony on prior allegations.
The accuser’s stepfather testified Tuesday that one of Jackson’s associates offered the family a house and a college education following the broadcast of ITV documentary “Living with Michael Jackson.†The documentary featured scenes in which the accuser was seen holding Jackson’s hand.
Prosecutors allege that Jackson molested the boy following the broadcast of the documentary and then conspired to hold the family hostage in order to film a rebuttal to the show.
Major Jay Jackson, an army reservist, testified that he asked a Jackson associate, Frank Tyson, about compensation for filming the rebuttal.
"I said, `What are you offering this family to do this?'†he testified.
He said that Tyson, named as an unindicted co-conspirator by prosecutors, replied he was offering “protection.â€
The stepfather said he replied “`Frank, the family doesn't need protection. Who are you protecting them from?'"
He said he never got an answer to the question. "He [Tyson] said he was going to offer a college education and a home," he explained, adding "they didn't need a home . . . and they were only in the eighth grade and didn't need a college education right then."
He said he then specifically asked Tyson about monetary compensation.
"I was suspicious of him at that point. He [Tyson] actually said, 'Are you trying to blackmail us?' "
Deputy District Attorney, Ron Zonen, also questioned the major about two journalists who had approached him following the broadcast of the British documentary overseas.
"I was intrigued by it," said the stepfather. "I was maybe thinking about asking for compensation, but I thought that was the industry standard. I meant no malice by it."
He testified that he was offered up to $15,000, but said "I declined. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it didn't seem like a good idea."
However under cross-examination, lead defense attorney Thomas Mesereau asked, "You went back and forth with them about money, didn't you?"
"That would be true," replied the stepfather.
"And you couldn't reach an agreement, right?"
"True," he conceded.
Prosecutors focused heavily on the period in February 2003 when the family was taken to Florida, purportedly to hold a news conference with Michael Jackson.
It was during this period that the family gave an audio interview to a private investigator, filmed the rebuttal show and was also questioned by child welfare authorities.
"And in the middle of all this turmoil, to your knowledge, molestation began on the 20th [of February]?" questioned Mesereau incredulously. Prosecutors objected and the stepfather was told by Judge Rodney Melville not to answer the question.
The stepfather also told the jury how the accuser’s mother had called him repeatedly from Neverland during the spring of 2003.
"She said she was not able to see her children, that when she went off Neverland she had a chaperone," said the major, who was then dating the mother.
"They were short conversations and disturbed," he said. He described the mother’s demeanor as “emotional†and “upset,†saying the phonecalls were always abruptly ended by the mother.
At one point the mother returned from Neverland to the family's home in west Los Angeles but the stepfather testified that she was pressured into returning to the ranch by Jackson’s colleagues.
He also said that when the accuser himself eventually returned home, his behavior had changed.
"It appeared to me he'd been brainwashed by someone," he said. Judge Melville told the jury to disregard the remark.
Asked to describe the changes, the stepfather said, "He'd become mean. He was using curse words. He had never done that before."
"He was acting very cocky, kind of rude, actually. I don't think he wanted to see me. It was almost like, 'What are you doing here?'"
However, upon cross-examination, Mesereau pointed out the boy’s extensive disciplinary problems at school, and also played an audio tape in which the mother praises Jackson for being "like a father ... unselfish, kind, exhibiting unconditional love." The tape was recorded on February 16, 2003.
Prosecutors are expected to call the accuser’s mother to the stand with the next few days.
Source: AP/Santa Barbara News-Press/MJJForum/eMJey