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Jackson's fate in jurors' hands

BY TINA SUSMAN | STAFF CORRESPONDENT

June 4, 2005

LaToya Jackson, left, Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson

The Jackson family passes through security at Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria ,Calif., Friday: from left, LaToya Jackson, Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson. (AP Photo / June 3, 2005)

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Jurors began deliberating Michael Jackson's fate Friday after prosecutors, getting the last word in closing arguments, scoffed at the pop star's claim that his love for children is innocent and portrayed him as a middle-aged man obsessed with little boys.

"How do you explain child after child after child?" attorney Ron Zonen said in his hour-long rebuttal, after defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. wrapped up his four-hour final statement.

Reminding jurors of Jackson's relationship with a boy in the 1990s, which led to molestation accusations that were settled out of court, Zonen said, "That is not a friendship. That is a relationship. Michael Jackson loved that child not as one loves a child, but as one loves an adult."

Though that case is not at issue in this trial, under California law, details of it and of other relationships Jackson formed with boys were allowed into evidence as prosecutors sought to prove a pattern of abuse that they say dates back to the early 1990s.

Jackson, 46, is charged with four counts of molestation stemming from incidents alleged to have occurred at his Neverland Valley Ranch in 2003. He is also charged with conspiracy to hold the accuser against his will, and with providing alcohol to the boy, who was 13.

As jurors left the courtroom to begin discussions, Jackson family associates insisted they were optimistic despite most legal analysts' views that the outcome was far from clear.

"He has great confidence in the justice system, and he is hoping the jury is going to acquit him of these charges," Jackson's spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, said. Bain said the family was so upbeat that as far as she knew, no firm plans had been made for Jackson's two young children should he be convicted and jailed.

"He has not taken the trial home, so the children are not prepared," Bain said.

As for Jackson himself, she described him as "not falling apart," despite some reports that he had stopped at a hospital emergency room Thursday night. Bain said Jackson's longtime friend, activist and comedian Dick Gregory, who became famous in the 1960s for politically motivated hunger strikes, noticed the singer looked dehydrated Thursday and told him: "I believe you need some electrolytes."

"Hopefully his dehydration problem is resolved," she said.

Commenting on Jackson's emaciated appearance, Bain said his diet - heavy on celery juice - tends not to put weight on a person.

Gregory attended the closing arguments and is one of an ever-expanding coterie of the famous and not-so-famous that has accompanied Jackson to court lately. Friday, the crowd included his sisters, Janet and LaToya, in addition to his parents, and brothers Jermaine and Randy.

The jury deliberated about two hours before going home and are due to return to the courthouse Monday morning.

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Jackson's fate in jurors' hands

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