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Seized books presented in Jackson case
Associated Press
Published April 30, 2005
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Prosecutors in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial on Friday showed jurors two books seized from his bedroom in 1993 that include pictures of nude boys.
The jury saw only the covers and front pages on which dedications were written, and heard a detective describe the content as boys in various states of undress, running, jumping and swimming.
As it has with other such material, the defense argued that the books were not illegal.
The books were seized by Los Angeles police during a molestation investigation involving a boy who received a multimillion-dollar settlement from Jackson in 1994. That probe never led to criminal charges against Jackson.
Jurors have heard testimony relating to long-ago allegations against Jackson under a California law that permits evidence that may tend to show a defendant's propensity toward child molestation.
Judge Rodney S. Melville allowed the prosecution to use the books despite defense objections that they were found too long ago to be relevant to the current case and would be prejudicial.
Jackson is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2003, giving him alcohol and conspiring to hold the accuser's family captive to get them to rebut a documentary.
One book, called Boys Will Be Boys, featured an image of fair-haired boys in swimsuits jumping into water.
The book contained an inscription written by Jackson: "Look at the true spirit of happiness and joy in these boys' faces, this is the spirit of boyhood, a life I've never had and will always dream of. This is the life I want for my children."
The jury also was shown the cover of a book called The Boy: A Photographic Essay. It contained an inscription dated 1983 that said: "To Michael from your (heart symbol) fan, XXXOOO, "Rhonda."'
Prosecutor Ron Zonen said earlier that one book was about 90 percent pictures of nude boys and the other about 10 percent.
Information from the Los Angeles Times was used in this report.
[Last modified April 30, 2005, 00:51:14]
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Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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