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On the Backfiring Line

by John F. Tamburo, Editor in Chief, Publisher
Originally Posted: 4/28/2005 10:32:47 AM

Michael Jackson’s trial was supposed to be a slam dunk.  Wham bam, he’s going to jail where he will be mercilessly tortured to death for being a child molester.  Now, the prosecution is trying to wrap up its supremely weak case, and the press hyped up the "bombshell," "highly damaging" final witness:  Debbie Rowe.  Then came day one of her testimony.  District Attorney Sneddon promised the jury that Rowe would testify that Mr. Jackson forced her to say nice things about her ex-husband in a video, including but not limited to a strong denial of seeing any improper behavior by Mr. Jackson.

"Oops!  Debbie Rowe got on the stand and told the truth:  She was not forced to do a thing.  Another promise to the jury broken.  One can only guess that Tom Mesereau is singing and dancing show tunes in his mind."

Oops!  Debbie Rowe got on the stand and told the truth:  She was not forced to do a thing.  Another promise to the jury broken.  One can only guess that Tom Mesereau is singing and dancing show tunes in his mind.  The prosecution is making the defense’s case!  Not one witness, not a single one, has turned out remotely as anticipated.  Not one promise from the prosecution in terms of testimony has gone through without being broken, or with the testimony unscathed.  Most importantly, the accuser, his brother and his mother, were shredded by Mr. Jackson’s defense team.  One of the attorneys being fired last week was nothing.  Nothing!  At this point, Jackson’s chimp could walk in, take over as counsel and win this joke of a case.

I have made my opinion clear.  I think that Mr. Jackson is actually innocent and further believe that there has been a pile-on of money grubbing people making false accusations to make a financial windfall.  I think that Tom Sneddon is on a vendetta, and is either so convinced that Mr. Jackson is a serial pedophile that he is crusading on a weak case, or is a publicity hound seeking to climb politically on Mr. Jackson’s back.

I still strongly believe that Tom Mesereau and the defense team should make a spirited plea for a directed acquittal when the prosecution rests.  Not just a one-page motion to save grounds for appeal.  Lay it out!  Make your point that, based on the evidence, there is no way for a reasonable jury to convict.  I think that Judge Melville just may buy it.  That sort of a verdict would not only end the torment for Michael Jackson, but it would be, in the eyes of the public, a judicial determination of actual innocence.  Such a verdict could easily rejuvenate Mr. Jackson’s career and income potential.  I also think that a well-presented argument would succeed.

Tom Sneddon has shot so many backfires that everyone behind him is destroyed.  This last backfire has apparently killed his case.