Defense questions raid on private investigator's office
Friday, July 9, 2004 Posted: 5:37 PM EDT (2137 GMT)
SANTA MARIA, California (AP) -- In a highly unusual move, the judge in the Michael Jackson child-molestation case ordered the district attorney Friday to take the stand and explain a raid on a private investigator's office.
Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville wants to know if the seizure of videotapes and computer hard drives from investigator Bradley Miller's office in November 2003 violated Jackson's attorney-client privilege.
The defense says Miller was working for the pop star's lawyer at the time, Mark Geragos.
District Attorney Tom Sneddon said Friday he did not know Miller was working for Geragos when authorities with a search warrant broke into Miller's office with sledgehammers.
"I have nothing to hide," Sneddon said.
The judge said he wants to find out what Sneddon knew at the time.
"I have been very concerned about the factual issue, whether or not the district attorney ... knew Mr. Geragos was working for Mr. Jackson and knew that Mr. Miller had been retained by Geragos," Melville said.
The judge at first ordered Sneddon to cancel his vacation -- a prepaid trip to Alaska for his 37th wedding anniversary -- to testify July 27. He then suggested the defense try to accommodate the prosecutor, either with a videotaped deposition or an appearance at a later hearing.
Jackson fired Geragos in April. His legal team is now led by Thomas Mesereau Jr.
Jackson, 45, is charged with molesting a boy and plying him with alcohol.
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