Michael Jackson Is Guilty, IMHO...

I have actually made myself late for an important appointment in order to make this posting.

I feel sick and frustrated that jurors in the Michael Jackson trial have chosen to find him not guilty of his various sex crimes. It seems rather vile to me that one man with fame and influence at his fingertips can avoid justice in a way that most people cannot. We saw it in the OJ Simpson trial, and we have seen it here.

The jurors said that they wanted “more convincing evidence” in order to find him guilty, because the defence had brought a witness to counter every prosecution witness. All I'd say on that, is that no matter how many people are still alive, a murderer is still guilty of murder. In the same way, no matter how many kids have not been abused by Jackson, those who were, were.

I'm not sure how good the evidence has to be in a trial like this - I'm not sure how good it /can/ be. It's always going to come down to one little person accusing a big person of doing horrible things with them. The defence in this trial, and I've watched just about everything that happened in the SKY recreations, at no point accused Gavin of lying - or, indeed, any of the other male witnesses who claim abuse.

All they did was to throw mud at other people around these boys. It was a spectacular display of misdirection.

Ultimately, it does not matter to me that Janet Arviso has lied in court, or made bogus claims. She needs to account for herself to the relevant authorities for those crimes. It doesn't matter that Gavin's father demanded money form celebrities. Infact, all those other things that the defence brought up simply do not matter one iota.

All that matters is that on a few occasions - many of which Gavin himself has understandably  shrouded with vagueness in his own mind - Michael Jackson compelled this boy of thirteen years to engage in sexual activity against his will. For me, the case opens and closes right there, and the failure of the jury to fully take this on board saddens me in the extreme.

If you accept that Jackson's target sexual group is young boys up to thirteen years old, in a heterosexual pedophile the same target group would be young girls up to thirteen. I think this makes it clearer for most people to understand. Suppose I was to get friendly with a family with a ten year old girl and invite them to my massive holiday home. As that girl's parent, would you feel OK about it if I suggested she sleep alone with me every single night?

I suspect not. I actually think that those of you with kids reading this reacted with extreme horror to the notion. I don't blame you. And yet, this is precisely what Jackson has admitted to, and was one of the factors that was not up for debate in this court case.

Even the lack of Jubilation on Michael Jackson's face seem to back up the truth. I mean - how would you react if you knew you were guilty and yet got off? Like any cheat, the sense of elation is muted. He didn't even crack a smile.

What happens now is very important indeed.

Even Jackson's closest friends are saying that he needs to use this as a wake-up call and change his life around - primarily by downscaling his involvement with children - especially in his bedroom. I do hope that his friends are vigilant, and that we see no more sleep-overs.

The media even asked some fans questions like this:  “Do you believe Michael is innocent?”  Answer:  “Yes, definitely.”  “OK, would you let your son sleep over at Neverland?” Answer: “No way.”

That speaks volumes.

Somewhere in my heart, I have an awful feeling that Jackson will now think that he is untouchable, and can do as he pleases. I hope and pray that this is not the case.

I'd like to see him put all this behind him now. I'd like to see him get some help and put his life back on track. His music is what makes him great, and therein lies his potential return to favour. I admire his achievements in music - I deplore what he thinks is OK in his bedroom, and I am so sad for the many families he has exploited and brought pain and suffering to.

For the man who has a depiction of the last supper above his bed - with himself as Jesus, I hope and pray he will remember that he is just Michael Jackson, a pretty good singer and songwriter with a lot to recover from.

As a trainee counsellor myself, I wish his therapist well.

Comments

[Storge]

Perhaps Triumph the insult comic dog can help explain some of the mystery around this case? - See link.

http://www.ifilm.com/player/?ifilmId=2672935&pg=default&skin=default&refsite=default&mediaSize=default&context=product&data=null&realId=2672935&bw=300&mt=WMP

Make no mistake however, this trial is and always was about one of mans worst pitfalls "MONEY".

[tom]

The prosecution screwed up their case by calling the alleged victim's mother to the stand. She ruined the case for the prosecution.

[John Cooper]

Fantastic entry. I've also been watching the Sky reinactments, and I'm in total agreement. Me and Claire watched the verdict live and were absolute dumbfoundered when he was found not Guilty on all counts. Although we have to be wise in our handling of under-aged testimony (and by that we have to understand that a 13 year old can lie as much as the next person), the defence team offered no rebuttal to Gavin's testimony. I found it telling that MJ didn't take the stand. Thomas Mesereau is supposed to be the expert in getting famous people to take the stand, and win cases-in fact it's how he's made a name for himself. As you said, Gavin Arviso said he was abused - nobody said he wasn't. And the only person who could denie it didn't take the satnd. However, for me the most telling verdict which shows what a farce this trial was was the one for supplying a mionor with alcohol. All the witnesses said that Michael Jackson drank wine from a Coke can. No-one rebutted that Michael had been giving Gavin a drink from Coke can in a "conpiritorial" way. No-one rebutted Gavins testimony that he was given wine. So we know MJ drinks wine from a coke can, we know MJ & gavin were drinking from a Coke can in a suspect manner, we know Gavin showed signs of being drunk afterwards, & Gavin has told us that IT WAS WINE IN THE CAN. No-one said otherwise. Even if Gavin and Starr had stolen wine from the Neverland wine seller, it doesn't mean that MJ wasn't guilty of giving Gavin wine on the plane. It's like saying it's OK for me to give my son bleach because he's drunk it of his own accord before. I'm still the adult - I'm still in charge.

Thanks again for a great entry.

[Miss Sparky]

Isn't it quite obvious that MJ is touched? I believe that he might simply have slept with these children, although I must admit I did not follow the trial at all. But I do know that I would not think twice about letting my neighbor girl stay the night for a sleepover.

But you must know that in the U.S. you get as much justice as you can afford. So really no suprises here.