GERALDO RIVERA, FOX NEWS:
Sources in the Michael Jackson camp this evening confirming to Fox News that the embattled King of Pop has indeed voluntarily given a DNA sample to Santa Barbara authorities, who staged that surprise raid on his Neverland ranch Friday morning.
The sources also provided me with previously unreported details. First of all, the DNA sample from Jackson was the principal item investigators were after Friday, and was the basis for the search warrant obtained from the judge. They did NOT conduct another wide-spread search of the premises, and they did not remove any additional evidence from the estate. Quote the source:
“They called Mesereau in LA and gave him just 40 minutes notice that they were on their way to Neverland to collect the sample. Tom then called Michael who was still asleep — woke him — told him to get the children up and to get out of there, because he didn’t want Michael having anything to do with the authorities without his attorney present. Michael woke the kids and was heading out as they were arriving. Tom then choppered in from LA to determine for himself what was going on.”
Aside from the fact Jackson feared that the gang of investigators would terrorize his small children, it was the timing of the action that most upsets the Jackson camp. Once Mesereau found out what they were looking for, all he could say was, “Why all the hoopla? Why couldn’t they just ask for the sample out front? We would have complied immediately. Not once time in this entire process have they asked Michael for his DNA.”
“As soon as he spoke to them Friday and found out what they were after, it was Mesereau who called them and suggested they come back and meet Michael the next day, Saturday, and take their sample.” End quote. Jackson voluntarily drove back to Neverland Saturday, and indeed complied with the demand, the sample being given in the form of a swab of saliva taken from the entertainers mouth.
As attorney Mesereau knew, the prosecution in cases of this nature has an almost absolute right to such material. But isn’t it fair to ask, folks, why now? Why an unannounced raid, sure to draw intense media attention and international headlines? Isn’t it inconceivable that after a year-long multi-million dollar investigation, that DA Tom Sneddon did not realize, until just two days before the cut off of pre-trial discovery, that he would need Jackson’s DNA? Any rookie prosecutor in small town USA would know from day one that in a sex assault case you get a DNA sample from the alleged perpetrator, period.
Like the excessive bail and so much about Tom Sneddons crusade against Michael Jackson, in this reporter's opinion this action seems both punitive and unprecedented. Back to you.
Transcript provided by 'wolf' at MJJF
Sources in the Michael Jackson camp this evening confirming to Fox News that the embattled King of Pop has indeed voluntarily given a DNA sample to Santa Barbara authorities, who staged that surprise raid on his Neverland ranch Friday morning.
The sources also provided me with previously unreported details. First of all, the DNA sample from Jackson was the principal item investigators were after Friday, and was the basis for the search warrant obtained from the judge. They did NOT conduct another wide-spread search of the premises, and they did not remove any additional evidence from the estate. Quote the source:
“They called Mesereau in LA and gave him just 40 minutes notice that they were on their way to Neverland to collect the sample. Tom then called Michael who was still asleep — woke him — told him to get the children up and to get out of there, because he didn’t want Michael having anything to do with the authorities without his attorney present. Michael woke the kids and was heading out as they were arriving. Tom then choppered in from LA to determine for himself what was going on.”
Aside from the fact Jackson feared that the gang of investigators would terrorize his small children, it was the timing of the action that most upsets the Jackson camp. Once Mesereau found out what they were looking for, all he could say was, “Why all the hoopla? Why couldn’t they just ask for the sample out front? We would have complied immediately. Not once time in this entire process have they asked Michael for his DNA.”
“As soon as he spoke to them Friday and found out what they were after, it was Mesereau who called them and suggested they come back and meet Michael the next day, Saturday, and take their sample.” End quote. Jackson voluntarily drove back to Neverland Saturday, and indeed complied with the demand, the sample being given in the form of a swab of saliva taken from the entertainers mouth.
As attorney Mesereau knew, the prosecution in cases of this nature has an almost absolute right to such material. But isn’t it fair to ask, folks, why now? Why an unannounced raid, sure to draw intense media attention and international headlines? Isn’t it inconceivable that after a year-long multi-million dollar investigation, that DA Tom Sneddon did not realize, until just two days before the cut off of pre-trial discovery, that he would need Jackson’s DNA? Any rookie prosecutor in small town USA would know from day one that in a sex assault case you get a DNA sample from the alleged perpetrator, period.
Like the excessive bail and so much about Tom Sneddons crusade against Michael Jackson, in this reporter's opinion this action seems both punitive and unprecedented. Back to you.
Transcript provided by 'wolf' at MJJF