Accuser's Mother Back on Trial By Joal Ryan 46 minutes ago The trial of Michael Jackson is winding down. The trial of the accuser's mother is still in full swing. ADVERTISEMENT With Jay Leno expected to add his star power to the Jackson's defense on Tuesday, the pop star's lawyers called on social workers and a local newspaper editor to help do their bidding on Monday. Witness after witness portrayed the accuser's mother as a welfare cheat and something of a scam artist. Mercy Manrriquez of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services testified that the woman applied for assistance days after receiving a five-figure settlement in a sexual assault lawsuit against a department store. Connie Keenan, editor of the El Monte, California, newspaper, the MidValley News, told jurors that she felt "duped" by the mother after running an article that tried to drum up help for the woman's eldest son who was then ill with cancer. Mike Radakovich, an accountant who poured over the financial records of the accuser's family at the defense's request, testified that Jackson's enterprise spent "several thousand dollars" on travel, food and body waxes for the allegedly exploited clan. Despite the tenor of the day's proceedings, it is Jackson, not the accuser's mother, who is the defendant in Santa Maria, California. The 46-year-old entertainer is accused of molesting the woman's eldest son, then 13, plying the boy with alcohol and conspiring to hold the child and his family hostage at the singer's Neverland estate. The accuser's mother is not charged with anything, although the prosecution has charged that the defense is trying to pin her with a welfare fraud rap. Before testifying last month, the mother put the kibosh on questions about her welfare status by invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. But the Fifth couldn't save her reputation from testimony from the likes of Manrriquez. The welfare official said the woman's 2001 application did not mention her family's then-recent $152,000 windfall from JCPenney, and did not mention her then-husband's medical insurance plan. Both disclosures were required, and both disclosures might have compromised her eligibility for benefits. Prosecutor Tom Sneddon long ago acknowledged that the mother--his key witness in the conspiracy charge against Jackson--had a welfare problem. In his opening argument, he told jurors that the mother took money she wasn't entitled to. He also said that the mother would admit on the stand to her wrongdoing, which she didn't. The defense has seized on the mother's checkered past in trying to convince jurors that she is no more credible now than she was then. But the impeachment of the mother only went so far. While Radakovich testified that the mother deposited $32,000 (supposedly her share of the JCPenney lawsuit), then shortly after withdrew $29,000 in the form of a money order made out to a car dealership, suggesting that the woman blew the funds on a car at the same time she was applying for welfare, the accountant couldn't say for sure if the mother actually bought the car. Radakovich said there was no paper trial showing that the money order had been cashed. And, in fact, the mother testified that she didn't buy the car, changing her mind at the last minute. As the trial enters its end stages, Leno is expected to be one of the defense's flashiest weapons in its attack on the mother. Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. has promised jurors that the Tonight Show host, who mercilessly mocks Jackson from his late-night pulpit, will say that the mother and her eldest son once tried to milk him for money. Jackson, who claims to have been the easy mark that Leno wasn't, has pleaded innocent to all charges. The Mother is looking pretty bad here Rocket River
What does she have to gain if he goes to jail? There's already some concern that Jackson is bankrupt. His financial condition won't improve if he's imprisoned. This isn't a civil suit. He's going to be acquitted, though. Whether he did it or not.
I concur that Jako will likely get acquitted of the most serious charges. I will be surprise if Jako walks completely scott free. Giving Jesus Juice to a minor is going to stick.
well, that's true. maybe something like that will stick. i'm unaware of all the things he's actually charged with.
Can they acquit him on the conspiracy charges and still find him guilty for the molestation charges? I think MartianMan said it best.
That mother should be going to prison for fraud charges. Duping the federal goverment can't be a good thing.
their bankrupt and our bankrupt are different they can be bankrupt and still buy islands Rocket River
