Flap arises over who speaks for Jackson
Mood:  blue
Topic: Main News

Jury has deliberated 20 hours so far without reaching a verdict

SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- After deliberating for 20 hours over four days, the jury in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial retired for the evening Wednesday without reaching a verdict. Jackson spent part of his day in a hospital for treatment of a back problem, his spokeswoman said. Meanwhile, a flap arose in the Jackson camp over who was authorized to speak on his behalf. Lead defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. issued a statement saying he had "not authorized anyone to speak or hold press conferences on behalf of Michael Jackson or his family."

Jackson and his family posted a similar statement on his Web site saying that while the efforts of his friends and supporters "are noticed and very much appreciated," only his attorneys were "authorized to speak on his behalf."

In recent days, the Rev. Jesse Jackson -- a longtime friend of the Jackson family -- has given a number of interviews describing Michael Jackson's mood.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon at the Santa Barbara County courthouse in Santa Maria, the entertainer's spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, insisted she had Mesereau's blessing to talk to the media.
"If Mr. Mesereau didn't want me here, I wouldn't be here," she said. "I never speak to the media without talking to Tom Mesereau."

A short time later, Mesereau got the court to authorize release of his statement, which noted: "A gag order is in effect, which the defense team will continue to honor."The order imposed by Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville forbids attorneys and witnesses from talking to the media without court approval.

Reached later by CNN, Bain said Mesereau's complaint referred to comments from people not authorized to speak on Jackson's behalf, rather than to her statements as his official spokeswoman. "[He] is concerned that there are unauthorized persons talking about the case," she said. "There have been a number of people speaking out of turn, passing out books and using the court as a forum."

Sources told CNN, however, that Mesereau's statement was indeed prompted by Bain's news conference.
In her earlier comments at the courthouse, Bain said Jackson was "taking it easy" at his Neverland Ranch, surrounded by his parents, brothers and sisters
.
"He's in good spirits, but as you all can image, he's very nervous," Bain said. "He has confidence in his innocence."

Bain said Jackson, who is not required to be at the courthouse for the deliberations, has been spending time with his children, talking on the phone with friends, conferring with his attorneys and watching movies and television.

She described the family's mood as "upbeat." "They are a strong family, and they rely on their strong faith," she said. "They realize the seriousness, but their mood was upbeat." Jackson also spent two hours Wednesday at Cottage Hospital in Santa Ynez, the same hospital where he was treated over the weekend, Bain said.

It was "a basic routine treatment for his back," a follow-up to the weekend treatment, she said. He was visited there by the Rev. Jackson, who was on his way out of the area Wednesday afternoon, she said. Eight women and four men on the jury are weighing Jackson's guilt or innocence on 10 felony charges brought against him by a grand jury last April.

The charges stem from events prosecutors say took place with a 13-year-old boy in February and March 2003: four counts of lewd conduct with a child younger than 14; one count of attempted lewd conduct; four counts of administering alcohol to facilitate child molestation; and one count of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

Jackson, 46, pleaded not guilty to the charges and did not take the stand during the trial. His trial involved 14 weeks of testimony by more than 130 witnesses. The jury deliberated about two hours Friday and six hours each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday -- 20 hours so far.

Earlier this week, attorneys for a consortium of media outlets, including CNN, asked Melville to release the verdict form provided the jury and to disclose the contents of any questions the jury asks. (Full story)

CNN's Dree De Clamecy and Ted Rowlands contributed to this report.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/08/jackson.trial/index.html
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In other media source, Raymond Bain & her company was terminated from MJJ Production.

More on this in coming days.

Anna M.