Posted by By TIM MOLLOY, Associated Press Writer on
Jury selection in Michael Jackson child molestation case was delayed Tuesday after the pop star was taken to the emergency room for reasons that were not immediately known, the judge said.
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Jury selection in Michael Jackson (news)'s child molestation case was delayed Tuesday after the pop star was taken to the emergency room for reasons that were not immediately known, the judge said.
| ||||||||
Judge Rodney Melville told prospective jurors that Jackson was taken to a local hospital on his way to court. Melville did not give any details about the illness and said he was awaiting word on Jackson's condition before deciding whether selection would resume Tuesday.
The judge made the announcement 15 minutes after Jackson was scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. A call to the Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, where Jackson was taken, was not immediately returned.
The delay came a day after defense attorneys offered jurors a list of prospective witnesses that sounded like an awards show lineup, saying they might hear testimony from such famous names as Elizabeth Taylor, Jay Leno, Quincy Jones (news), and Kobe Bryant.
The judge in the case dimmed the prospect of the case turning into a celebrity supernova, saying not all of the famous people named would necessarily testify.
Hundreds of potential witnesses were listed for prospective jurors Monday so attorneys could find out if any of the more than 240 members of the pool knew people who may testify.
Other possible witnesses included Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, actors Chris Tucker and Corey Feldman (news), Backstreet Boy Nick Carter (news) and his younger brother Aaron, CNN's Larry King, CBS correspondent Ed Bradley, Fox broadcaster Rita Cosby, New Age guru Deepak Chopra, psychic Uri Geller, illusionist David Blaine (news - web sites), Las Vegas tycoon Steve Wynn (news), and relatives of the late Marlon Brando (news).
Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. also named Jackson's children Paris and Prince Michael. Possible prosecution witnesses included Debbie Rowe, their mother.
Other prosecution witnesses included psychologist Stan Katz, who interviewed the alleged victim, and comedy club owner Jamie Masada, who brought Jackson and the boy together.
Prosecutors also listed the entire family of a boy involved in 1993 molestation allegations against Jackson. The judge has not yet ruled whether that incident can be mentioned in the trial. The accuser received a multimillion-dollar settlement and no criminal charges were filed.
Both sides listed former Jackson attorney Mark Geragos, and the defense list included Jackson's chief prosecutor, District Attorney Tom Sneddon.
Also listed was journalist Martin Bashir, whose 2003 TV documentary "Living With Michael Jackson" showed Jackson and his accuser holding hands and Jackson defending his practice of sharing his bed with children.
No explanation was given for why the witnesses might appear, but several, including Taylor, Jones, and Wonder, are friends of Jackson's. Others, including Tucker and "Rush Hour 2" director Brett Ratner, have had contact with the accuser.
The panelists were told that some witnesses may not appear because attorneys routinely line up witnesses but decide during trial who they need to call to the stand.
When questioning began, defense attorneys asked prospects about their artistic pursuits and interests, their feelings about Jackson, and whether they believe children sometimes lie, especially at their parents' behest.
One woman said she was falsely accused by a relative of molesting a boy, and later was falsely accused by a parent of assaulting a child while she was a teacher.
"I don't know the truth about Mr. Jackson but I'd like the truth to come forward," she said. "I'm sympathetic."
Another woman said she had to go to police when she found out that a brother-in-law molested her nieces.
Both women said they could be unbiased despite their experiences.
Several prospective jurors said they believe children often lie under pressure.
Almost all the prospects said they were skeptical of news reports about the case. One juror said she might have a hard time judging Jackson because of a report she had seen. The same woman said she would believe a police officer's testimony over anyone else's but that she could be fair.
Several people said they were fans of Jackson's music, and one woman said she did a cheerleading routine to one of his songs while in junior high school.
But when Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen asked if anyone had bought any of his music in the last five years, none of the prospects had.
