Oggi c'è stata una testimonianza importantissima
SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Michael Jackson's defense team began its case Thursday, calling a celebrity witness who testified the pop star never touched him inappropriately.
Wade Robson, who spent time with Jackson as a child, denied the singer committed sex abuse. Robson, a choreographer who has worked with Britney Spears and hosted his own show on MTV, was once in a music video with Jackson.
The testimony came as news surfaced that one of the jurors is in jeopardy of being kicked off the panel because of ties to Jackson, who is on trial for charges that he molested a boy at the Neverland Ranch.
Earlier Thursday, the judge denied a defense motion for an acquittal Thursday after the pop star's attorneys said the prosecution witnesses had "a tendency to self-destruct" on the stand.
Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville (search) immediately called in the jury to begin hearing the defense case.
Defense motions for acquittal are common when the prosecution rests, but are rarely successful.
Defense attorney Robert Sanger (search) said witnesses such as flight attendant Cynthia Bell, former Jackson employee Jesus Salas, and Jackson's ex-wife Deborah Rowe were called by the prosecution but gave testimony favorable to Jackson.
"The smoking gun evidence that these witnesses were supposed to present just didn't come through," he said.
The judge had said he was reluctant to make a decision about the credibility of the witnesses, suggesting that was the jury's job.
Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. asked Robson if Jackson had ever molested him.
"Absolutely not," the witness said.
Robson was also asked if Jackson had ever touched him in an inappropriate way or a sexual way, and the witness said no to both questions.
Robson said he stayed at Jackson's Neverland ranch more than 20 times and has slept in Jackson's bedroom. He said there were only about three or four visits when he did not sleep in Jackson's bed.
A former Jackson maid, the mother of a boy who got a multimillion-dollar settlement from Jackson in the 1990s after accusing the star of molestation, testified previously that she once saw Jackson showering with Robson.
Robson said he had never showered with Jackson.
Asked if he ever swam with Jackson, Robson said he and his sister went into a Jacuzzi with Jackson on their first visit to Neverland.
Mesereau asked Robson what he did when he stayed in Jackson's room.
Robson said they played video games, watched movies and talked.
"We have pillow fights every now and again," Robson said.
In cross-examination, prosecutor Ron Zonen noted Robson's testimony that nothing sexual happened, said to the witness: "What you're really telling us is that nothing happened when you were awake."
Robson insisted nothing sexual occurred at any time.
"I would think something like that would wake me up," he said.
Zonen then sought to suggest that the witness was often so exhausted by practicing dance and having fun at the ranch that he might have slept heavily.
Under further cross-examination, Robson acknowledge that Jackson helped him move from Australia to the United States in September 1991 and that he was grateful for the help.
The Associated Press and FOX News' Trace Gallagher contributed to this report.
Allora dopo che il giudice ha negato la richiesta di sospensione delle difesa si è passati subito all'interrogatorio di Wade Robson.
Alle domande di Meserau: "MJ ti hai mai toccato in modo appropriato?, in modo sessuale?, ti ha mai molestato?" ha risposto "no, assolutamente no". Ha detto che fece visista a MJ per una 20na di volte, e che solo 3 o 4 volte non ha dormito in camera di MJ. In camera giocavano a videogiochi, alla guerra dei cuscini o vedevano dei film.
Nel contro interrogatorio gli è stato chiesto se lui non fosse mai stato toccato mentre dormiva "se sarebbe successo, mi sarei svegliato" ha risposto. L'accusa ha fatto intendere che Wade era talmente stanco dopo tutto il ballare e il divertisi che aveva un sonno troppo pesante per potersi accorgere di ciò e quindi svegliare.
Wade ha detto anche che lui e sua sorella erano entrati nella jacuzzi con MJ una volta.
Wade ha negato di essersi mai fatto la doccia con Michael!!
Cmq questa testimonianza va a minare la credibilità dei teste dell'accusa che dicevano che Wade si era fatto la doccia con MJ, che MJ lo aveva molestato nella Jacuzzi, ecc...
[Modificato da sery84 05/05/2005 23.54]
[Modificato da sery84 05/05/2005 23.55]