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Michael Jackson: Mother of 1993 Accuser to Testify

Trial Update
April 11, 2005

So far, Michael Jackson's attorney has made some serious inroads into derailing the prosecution's witnesses, discrediting them with financial and other motives to lie. None of them are free of heavy baggage.

Today the mother of the 1993 accuser testifies. You can expect the defense to bring out on cross that she knew her son was sleeping in Jackson's bedroom.

On a legal note, the defense has filed a motion (pdf) that I think has an excellent chance on appeal of reversing a conviction, should one occur. The motion objects to the introduction of past conduct evidence because it is not coming in through the accusers, but through third parties.

Also, the defense objects that the court's failure to rule on the issue until well after the trial began precluded it addressing these allegations in its opening statement.

As I wrote here back in February,

The Judge has said he won't rule on the admission of testimony of the 1993 accuser or whether a battered woman's expert can testify for the prosecution to bolster the testimony of the accuser's mother until after hearing what they have to say after the trial starts.

That makes it a little difficult to compose your opening argument. Does Mr. Mesereau just not mention the 1993 accuser, hoping the Judge disallows the testimony? Does he tell the jury, "You may or may not hear from a battered woman's expert in this case?"

Update: 1993 accuser's mother testified she allowed her son to sleep in Jackson's bed.

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