Judge issues arrest warrant for Jackson
A judge issued an arrest warrant for Michael Jackson today after he failed to show up for his trial on time.
The singer’s lawyer announced Jackson was being treated for a serious back problem.
Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville said Jackson would also forfeit his bail unless he appeared in court in Santa Maria, California, within an hour.
The announcement came after a few minutes after court hearing was to have started.
Gavin Arvizo, the teenager who has accused Jackson of molesting him, was due to begin a second day of testimony against the singer.
The jury was not yet in the courtroom when the judge entered.
Jackson’s lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, said: “Mr Jackson is at Cottage Hospital in Santa Ynez with a serious back problem. He does plan to come in.”
The judge, obviously angry, declared, “I’m issuing a warrant for his arrest. I“m forfeiting his bail. I will hold the order for one hour.”
Mesereau had been observed talking urgently on his mobile phone for about a half-hour before the session was to begin.
Jackson has had health problems that previously interrupted the proceedings. During the first week of jury selection he went to a hospital with flu symptoms. But he has been on time or early since then.
Hospital spokeswoman Janet O’Neill said Jackson left Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital at 8.45am (4.45 Irish time). It is about a 35 mile drive from the hospital to the court. O’Neill had no comment on Jackson’s condition.
