Judge Rules Accuser Must Face Jackson In Court!
29th January 2005
The teenage boy who accused pop icon Michael Jackson of child abuse must face the superstar in open court, the judge in the case ruled.
Judge Rodney Melville made the critical decision over the objections of prosecutors in the last pre-trial hearing ahead of Monday’s official start of the trial of one of the most famous people ever to face such serious criminal charges.
But while ruling that the 15-year-old alleged victim and his 14-year-old brother must testify in open court instead of from behind closed doors, Melville warned he would not tolerate any intimidation of the children.
“Whether I keep an open courtroom will depend on what happens during their testimony,” Melville said warning that he would entertain no “hand gestures, mutterings” or any other expressons towards the children from the gallery.
“It is critical there be no disruption in their testimony,” he told the rival lawyers in the case after Jackson’s lawyers won their bid to force the boys to testify in open court.
Source: Associated Press
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