MJ trial could end early
From correspondents in Santa Maria
May 21, 2005
From: Agence France-Presse
THE defence in pop icon Michael Jackson's child molestation trial could rest its case by early next week, a prosecutor told the court in California today.
"We are approaching the end of this trial rapidly. The defence has indicated it may be prepared to rest by Tuesday," prosecutor Ron Zonen said.
The comments came after Jackson's lead lawyer Thomas Mesereau told the judge midweek that he could close his case sooner than expected after dramatically scaling back his list of witnesses.
When trial Judge Rodney Melville told him that he ought to keep defence witnesses coming as "we still have several weeks to go", Mr Mesereau replied: "I think a number of weeks is an overstatement of the amount of time we'll need here."
US television networks NBC and ABC have quoted sources as saying that the jury could begin deliberating on the fate of the 46-year-old Jackson by the first week in June.
When jury selection started on January 31, Melville said he expected proceedings to last about six months.
Opening arguments commenced on February 28 and the prosecution rested its case in early May.
Jackson has denied 10 charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer patient, plied him with alcohol and held him and his family prisoner in early 2003.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15359...13-1702,00.html
From correspondents in Santa Maria
May 21, 2005
From: Agence France-Presse
THE defence in pop icon Michael Jackson's child molestation trial could rest its case by early next week, a prosecutor told the court in California today.
"We are approaching the end of this trial rapidly. The defence has indicated it may be prepared to rest by Tuesday," prosecutor Ron Zonen said.
The comments came after Jackson's lead lawyer Thomas Mesereau told the judge midweek that he could close his case sooner than expected after dramatically scaling back his list of witnesses.
When trial Judge Rodney Melville told him that he ought to keep defence witnesses coming as "we still have several weeks to go", Mr Mesereau replied: "I think a number of weeks is an overstatement of the amount of time we'll need here."
US television networks NBC and ABC have quoted sources as saying that the jury could begin deliberating on the fate of the 46-year-old Jackson by the first week in June.
When jury selection started on January 31, Melville said he expected proceedings to last about six months.
Opening arguments commenced on February 28 and the prosecution rested its case in early May.
Jackson has denied 10 charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer patient, plied him with alcohol and held him and his family prisoner in early 2003.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15359...13-1702,00.html