Michael Jackson pleads innocent

Michael Jackson pleads innocent

SANTA MARIA – A subdued Michael Jackson pleaded innocent on Friday to new charges of conspiring to commit child abduction, extortion and false imprisonment, an ominous indictment that substantially broadens the child molestation case against him.

The 45-year-old pop star arrived for a court hearing with new lawyer Thomas Mesereau and was low-key and serious as a judge read the indictment against him, which was handed up by a Santa Barbara County grand jury last month but kept sealed until Friday. Dressed in a black velvet suit with a red tie and matching arm band, Jackson spoke only twice during the hearing, quietly answering “yes” when Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville asked him if he wanted to plead not guilty to the 10-count indictment.Outside court Jackson, wearing eyeglasses, spoke in a near-whisper as he read a brief statement thanking his fans and declaring his love for the people who will ultimately judge him at a trial.”I would like to thank the fans around the world for their love and support from every corner of the earth, my family who have been very supportive, my brother Randy.I want to thank the community of Santa Maria.I want you to know that I love the community of Santa Maria very much,” he said.Jackson’s sombre demeanour – he treated hundreds of fans gathered outside court only to a few waves from his dark blue sports utility vehicle – contrasted sharply with the spectacle at a January hearing, when he climbed on top of his car to dance and wave.But Jackson’s spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, said the moonwalking entertainer was “upbeat and in good spirits” after the hearing despite the new charges and pleased that members of his family, including his parents and brothers Jackie and Randy, were in court to lend their support.Though Melville unsealed the indictment against Jackson, the judge redacted the document so thoroughly that little was made clear about the evidence beyond the bare facts of the charges.But Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon clearly hopes to prove a case against the self-styled “King of Pop” that goes well beyond the previous counts of committing lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 and plying the boy with alcohol.While Jackson still faces those charges, prosecutors also have accused him of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.Legal experts said the conspiracy charge implies more planning on Jackson’s part and the involvement of others.- Nampa-ReutersDressed in a black velvet suit with a red tie and matching arm band, Jackson spoke only twice during the hearing, quietly answering “yes” when Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville asked him if he wanted to plead not guilty to the 10-count indictment.Outside court Jackson, wearing eyeglasses, spoke in a near-whisper as he read a brief statement thanking his fans and declaring his love for the people who will ultimately judge him at a trial.”I would like to thank the fans around the world for their love and support from every corner of the earth, my family who have been very supportive, my brother Randy.I want to thank the community of Santa Maria.I want you to know that I love the community of Santa Maria very much,” he said.Jackson’s sombre demeanour – he treated hundreds of fans gathered outside court only to a few waves from his dark blue sports utility vehicle – contrasted sharply with the spectacle at a January hearing, when he climbed on top of his car to dance and wave.But Jackson’s spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, said the moonwalking entertainer was “upbeat and in good spirits” after the hearing despite the new charges and pleased that members of his family, including his parents and brothers Jackie and Randy, were in court to lend their support.Though Melville unsealed the indictment against Jackson, the judge redacted the document so thoroughly that little was made clear about the evidence beyond the bare facts of the charges.But Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon clearly hopes to prove a case against the self-styled “King of Pop” that goes well beyond the previous counts of committing lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 and plying the boy with alcohol.While Jackson still faces those charges, prosecutors also have accused him of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.Legal experts said the conspiracy charge implies more planning on Jackson’s part and the involvement of others.- Nampa-Reuters

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