Jackson molestation evidence may end this week
Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson trial say they may wrap up the stage of their case focusing on a boy’s molestation claims as early as this week.
Those expected to testify about the alleged molestation include investigators who searched Jackson’s Neverland Valley Ranch on November 18, 2003, and Stan Katz, a psychologist who interviewed the boy and his brother about the alleged molestation.
What comes after the testimony will depend on how Judge Rodney Melville rules in a hearing next Monday on the prosecution’s request that they be allowed to present evidence of alleged past molestations by Jackson.
If the judge agrees to admit the evidence, they may begin presenting witnesses about Jackson’s past immediately after the ruling.
Jackson has never been criminally charged with a past offence, but prosecutors want to present witnesses to show that the current case is part of a pattern.
They also want to tell jurors about an accusation against Jackson by another boy in 1993 that resulted in a multimillion-dollar civil settlement.
After presenting evidence on the molestation, prosecutors will focus on the next stage of their case: the allegation that Jackson held the boy’s family captive to get them to help him rebut a damaging documentary in which he acknowledged sharing his bed with children.
Jackson said the sleepovers were innocent and non-sexual.
When testimony finished on Thursday, prosecutors were presenting dozens of books and adult magazines seized from Neverland that they allege Jackson may have used to lure his accuser into being molested.
The boy and his brother said they saw several adult magazines when they were in Jackson’s bedroom. In one instance, they said they found the publications while poking through Jackson’s belongings.
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