Monday, March 21, 2005

Michael Jackson. What the f***?

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/21/jackson.trial/index.html

Testimony resumes in Jackson trial After late arrival, pop star appeared to shake, sob in court

Monday, March 21, 2005 Posted: 1:41 PM EST (1841 GMT)

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SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- Testimony resumed Monday in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial after the pop star arrived late for court.

Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville, who threatened to jail Jackson after a similar episode on March 10, pushed ahead with testimony Monday after a 45-minute delay.

Jackson arrived at the Santa Maria courthouse a few minutes after the scheduled start of the trial at 8:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET).

Walking very slowly, with a bodyguard and his brother Jackie at his elbows, Jackson offered a weak wave to supporters, then made his way inside.

Jackson was wearinga black jacket with a blue armband and striped vest, with his hair hanging in front of his face.

Once he took his seat in the courtroom, Jackson seemed to be in distress, shaking and sobbing. At one point, appearing as if he might vomit, Jackson got up to leave, putting tissues in front of his face.

As testimony resumed, a doctor was sitting behind the pop star. No explanation was given in court for Jackson's illness or his late arrival.

Jackson's health issues have delayed his trial twice before. In February, he was briefly hospitalized with the flu, delaying jury selection for a week.

On March 10, suffering from what his representatives said was a back injury, Jackson showed up more than an hour late for court, wearing pajama bottoms, after Melville threatened to revoke his $3 million bond. (Full story)

Monday marks the start of the fourth week of Jackson's trial, with the prosecutors expected to turn their attention toward what they say was a conspiracy by Jackson and his associates to intimidate and control his accuser and the boy's family, including holding them against their will.

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