Michael Jackson gets new lawyers

LOS ANGELES – Pop star Michael Jackson on Sunday replaced the lawyers who have been defending him since November against accusations that he molested a child, his publicist said.

Jackson replaced lawyers Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman with Thomas Mesereau, another well-known defence lawyer. “Yes, it’s true.They were replaced,” said a person in the office of Jackson publicist Raymore Bain who identified himself only as Phileo.”We will issue a statement soon.”Brafman confirmed to the cable television channel CNN that he and Geragos were no longer working for the singer, saying the two had removed themselves from the case.”Based on recent developments and discussions with various persons in the Jackson camp, it became clear that it would be best if Mark and I decided to step down, and that’s what we elected to do,” Brafman said.Jackson, 45, was indicted on Wednesday by a California state grand jury on charges that have not been made public.The indictment supersedes seven counts laid against Jackson in December by Santa Barbara county prosecutors of lewd and lascivious behaviour with a minor and plying a child with alcohol stemming from allegations that the star sexually abused a 12-year-old cancer victim at his Neverland Ranch in 2003.The singer has called the accusations “a big lie” intended to extort money from him and says he intends to plead not guilty to all the charges.Jackson was arrested in November after police raids on his ranch then freed on $3-million (about N$20 million) bail.He has surrendered his passport.According to media reports, in 13 days of testimony, the 19-member grand jury heard from Jackson’s young accuser, the boy’s mother, father and therapist, as well as the family’s lawyers, Larry Feldman and William Dickerman.Feldman in 1993 represented another boy who had accused Jackson of sexual abuse.But the case was settled out of court for a reported seven-figure amount.The grand jury heard this second set of charges in secret with no defence attorneys present, to determine if there was enough evidence to go to trial.- Nampa-Reuters”Yes, it’s true.They were replaced,” said a person in the office of Jackson publicist Raymore Bain who identified himself only as Phileo.”We will issue a statement soon.”Brafman confirmed to the cable television channel CNN that he and Geragos were no longer working for the singer, saying the two had removed themselves from the case.”Based on recent developments and discussions with various persons in the Jackson camp, it became clear that it would be best if Mark and I decided to step down, and that’s what we elected to do,” Brafman said.Jackson, 45, was indicted on Wednesday by a California state grand jury on charges that have not been made public.The indictment supersedes seven counts laid against Jackson in December by Santa Barbara county prosecutors of lewd and lascivious behaviour with a minor and plying a child with alcohol stemming from allegations that the star sexually abused a 12-year-old cancer victim at his Neverland Ranch in 2003.The singer has called the accusations “a big lie” intended to extort money from him and says he intends to plead not guilty to all the charges.Jackson was arrested in November after police raids on his ranch then freed on $3-million (about N$20 million) bail.He has surrendered his passport.According to media reports, in 13 days of testimony, the 19-member grand jury heard from Jackson’s young accuser, the boy’s mother, father and therapist, as well as the family’s lawyers, Larry Feldman and William Dickerman.Feldman in 1993 represented another boy who had accused Jackson of sexual abuse.But the case was settled out of court for a reported seven-figure amount.The grand jury heard this second set of charges in secret with no defence attorneys present, to determine if there was enough evidence to go to trial.- Nampa-Reuters

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