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As defense opens case, will Jackson speak?
Associated Press
Published May 2, 2005
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Michael Jackson has sat silently in court for nine weeks, betraying little reaction as prosecutors laid out their child molestation and conspiracy case against him.
Now, with the defense case about to begin, trial watchers wonder if the pop star can resist the temptation to step into the witness stand spotlight and tell the story as he sees it.
Conventional legal wisdom is that defendants should not take the stand in criminal trials, but lead defense lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr. has a history of putting his clients on the stand to speak for themselves.
His close friend and associate, attorney Dana Cole, said Mesereau is leaning toward doing the same in Jackson's case. "Tom feels Michael would make a very good witness," Cole said.
"He feels it's important for the client to look at the jury and say, "I did not commit this crime."'
"Obviously, he doesn't need to make that decision now. ... But he does want an acquittal, not a hung jury, and to get that he may have to put Michael on the stand."
[Last modified May 2, 2005, 01:43:05]
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