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Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Present

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 11:26:10 AM EST
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Trial Update
March 21

Why isn't this trial being delayed? If the defendant were anyone other than Michael Jackson, the jury would be sent home for a few days. Illness of a trial participant is not that uncommon. In a trial expected to last six months, where court adjourns at 2:30 p.m. every day, surely the Judge can make some adjustments on humanitarian grounds. Or do you have to be in a persistent vegetative state before a Court supplies relief?

An ill-looking and sometimes trembling Michael Jackson arrived late to his child molestation trial again Monday, walking hesitantly into court along with a doctor in surgical scrubs, but after a 45-minute delay the judge ordered testimony to resume with no explanation to the jury.

...On Monday, Jackson, 46, took tiny, hesitant steps entering the courtroom and appeared to be in great pain. The doctor, Bert Weiner of Cottage Hospital in Santa Ynez, went into the judge's chambers for a private conference and remained in the front row of the courtroom when testimony resumed.

During the chambers conference, Jackson's brother Jackie and a security guard escorted the singer to a restroom. When he returned to the courtroom he was seen crying at the counsel table with a tissue over his face. He appeared to have trouble sitting and standing.

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    • Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Present | 13 comments (13 topical)
    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 11:56:16 AM EST
    The medical excuse...a favorite resort of the rich to delay trials, raise sympathy and (if convicted) used to get out of jail time. Back problems is an excellent one to use since it;s so hard to prove one is faking.

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 12:46:42 PM EST
    Two things have become blatantly obvious during Michael Jackson's trial: 1. He's got very poor coping skills with limited insight and judgement. He deals with stress with physical manifestations such as back pain, limping, flu s/s. This is learned childhood behavior. 2. He's got a Histrionic Personality Disorder. He's the textbook epitome of this.

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 01:02:43 PM EST
    Dr. Cook, and you've met him and examined him how many times?

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 01:10:04 PM EST
    jeralyn, i love you, but this should not be surprising. most people, i think the judge included, simply DO NOT BELIEVE jacko is suffering from anything other than an a desire not to deal with this. famous person or no, when no one believes you are really ill or injured, you're not going to get any breaks. that said, celebrity cases are just a joke. they've become events more suited to the roman coliseum. get them off t.v., out of the papers.

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#5)
    by Big Daddy on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 01:29:06 PM EST
    All of the posters above could be right...he could be faking, have bad coping skills, a Histrionic Personality Disorder (whatever the hell that is), whatever. Or, more likely, he might have HURT HIS FREAKING BACK! My god people...are you so desperate to find a conspiracy and assume the worst because of his fame? Pathetic.

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 01:43:32 PM EST
    The case against Michael Jackson is so clear that only hero-worshipping zombies could deny his history of bizarre sexual molestations of underage boys. His financial fortune blinds many Hollywood fans to Michael's essentially venal passive-aggressive nature. In a prior case, whose records are now sealed, the same events occurred. He should be sentenced to lifetime imprisonment for exploiting children.

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 02:15:24 PM EST
    big daddy, i agree with you, for the most part. i was simply pointing out what seems an unspoken "fact" here -- that people aren't believing his flu, back, whatever. it is accompanied with a certain cruel glee in some cases, no doubt, but the overall vibe seems to be doubting jacko's recent rash of health issue. i'm ready for the british model, myself, where this kind of frenzy and public airwave circus does not surround the court system in "headline" cases.

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#8)
    by Kitt on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 03:42:29 PM EST
    Why isn't Michael being told to straighten up and among other things, get to court on time?

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#9)
    by BigTex on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 03:44:54 PM EST
    Well, I've had t' have two lumbar lamenectomies from auto wrecks, and can say that back pain is terrible. Maybe he is fakin' th' pain, but, a limp can be a sign o' an aggrvated nerve, add t' that th' tears and it gives some weight t' th' fact that his back really is hurtin'. Now this all could be good actin', but one again, we can't tell. So what t' do? Why not let im schedule a MRI so th' docs can see what ails him, and then proceed from there. Dependin' on what th' root o' th' pain is this may be easily treatable, and remember R. Queisser innocent until proven guilty. So fer th' time bein' he's not guilty and might I suggest that th' evidence isn't as clear as you sugest - all th' more reason t' take th' time t' see what th' root o' th' problem is. Situations like these are where th' need fer discliplnin' black robes comes into a bright glarin' light.

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#10)
    by Kitt on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 03:45:03 PM EST
    I think Dr. Cook has probably seen the video, Jeralyn. Besides, I like those diagnoses he handed out.... ;)

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 04:12:10 PM EST
    Stop tryin' so hurd ta tak texan, tex. Larn th' language.

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 21, 2005 at 05:13:01 PM EST
    a Histrionic Personality Disorder (whatever the hell that is) You are on the Internet(s). Presumably you can access Google. That's how I found out what it is:)

    Re: Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Presen (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 30, 2005 at 02:34:37 AM EST
    When is MJ not sick?

    Michael Jackson: In Tears, Late, Doctor Present | 13 comments (13 topical)