Ambular

Michael Jackson taken to hospital


By The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 15, 2005


SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) - Michael Jackson was taken to a hospital Tuesday and was to be admitted, the judge in the singer's molestation trial said. The development delayed jury selection.
Judge Rodney Melville told prospective jurors that Jackson was on his way to court when he was taken to the hospital emergency room instead. He later told them Jackson was to be admitted.

But Melville did not give any details about the illness and said he was awaiting word on Jackson's condition before deciding whether jury selection would resume.

The judge made the announcement 15 minutes after Jackson was scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. A call to the Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, where Jackson was taken, was not immediately returned.



On Monday, questioning of jurors got under way, and Jackson's lawyers announced they may call Elizabeth Taylor, Jay Leno, Quincy Jones and Kobe Bryant to the witness stand.

The list of possible witnesses sounded like coming attractions for a major Hollywood spectacle. But Melville dimmed that prospect, saying not all of the celebrities would necessarily testify.

Attorneys are in the process of selecting 12 jurors and eight alternates who will decide whether Jackson molested a teenage cancer patient at his Neverland Ranch and plied the youth with alcohol.

During Monday's proceedings, Jackson smiled and nodded at potential jurors. At one point he picked roughly at a fingernail, and later wrapped it in a napkin.

Names of defense and prosecution witnesses were revealed to prospective jurors Monday so attorneys could find out if any of the more than 240 members of the pool had associations that may be important in jury selection.

Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. also named two of Jackson's children, Paris and Prince Michael. Possible prosecution witnesses included Debbie Rowe, their mother.

Other possible witnesses included Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Chris Tucker, former child actor Corey Feldman, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter and younger brother Aaron, CBS correspondent Ed Bradley, CNN's Larry King, Fox broadcaster Rita Cosby, New Age guru Deepak Chopra, psychic Uri Geller, illusionist David Blaine, Las Vegas tycoon Steve Wynn and relatives of the late Marlon Brando.

Prosecutors also listed the family of a boy involved in 1993 molestation allegations against Jackson. The judge has not yet ruled whether that incident can be mentioned in the trial. The accuser received a multimillion-dollar settlement and no criminal charges were filed.

Both sides listed former Jackson attorney Mark Geragos, and the defense list included Jackson's chief prosecutor, District Attorney Tom Sneddon.

Mio

I seriously think they need to put him on suicide watch.

He's trying everything to delay this jury selection. I think if he keeps mucking it up, they need to do it without him.

Ambular

I know, this has been delayed long enough

TheAngel

I agree that this is getting way out of hand. This freak show has gone on long enough and needs to be stopped as soon as possible.

*Lauren

This was so predictable. *******.

Why does he need to be present at jury selection anyway?

Mio

The lawyers need to see the reactions of the jurors while he's in the courtroom. I know some can fake their composure, but they don't want a "super fan" to jeapordize the case.

Galaxia21

Ew. That really grossed me out for some reason.

Ambular

And by the pictures of him smiling. Those photographers are not fans, creepass. Stop grinning.

mattia

sure he is sick....he is just spending everyone's time and money by stalling. Enough with the freak show!!

roswellain_chick16

I agree! Quit with the stalling and haul his @$$ off - If it is decided he needs to be thrown in jail

No1important

He needed to be locked up in a padded cell long ago.

Elizajoey

Man that virus/flu must have been horrible for him to be able to WAVE at his window and WRITE messages to his fans.

What annoys me about this if a normal Mr or Miss Citizen ebhaved in this manner, the judge would comment about their disdain for the court and it's proceedings but because Jackson is a celebrity, he gets away with it.

And this is the guy complaining the fact that he is a celebrity - look at the special treatment you receive Buster!

-Kelly-

Maybe he made himself sick just so the judge can see it it wouldn't be put pass me, hey?

dark noon

you guys are a bunch of f'in a$$holes. "stop grinning"? wth is your problem? lay off, this man happens to be sick and you're gonna treat him like he's trash ontop of that? "throw him in jail"? and the trial hasn't even started? think about it for a second, seriously...i mean sure you guys are entitled to your opinion and all but you don't need to get harsh. open your mind.

hearts of cardboard

I agree. if you can't, show some humanity.