Jackson Trial Begins, as Does the Spectacle
SANTA MARIA, Calif. — After more than a decade battling police allegations and tabloid gossip, pop star Michael Jackson arrived at the opening of his trial Monday on charges that he molested a 12-year-old boy.
Several hundred fans cheered as Jackson strode into the Santa Maria courthouse for the first day of jury selection wearing a dazzling white suit, bejeweled vest and sunglasses. His wave was captured by media outlets and broadcast live around the globe.
In the coming months, the world expects to get a glimpse into Jackson's bizarre life -- a life of celebrity and wealth during which he has fathered three children and undergone a number of plastic surgeries. He lives mostly at a mansion in the coastal mountains near Santa Maria that includes a zoo and carnival rides. For years, he has invited children over to play at the ranch, the site of the alleged abuse in February and March 2003 for which he now stands trial.
Jackson trial -- An article in Tuesday's Section A about the start of Michael Jackson's trial and several previous articles have said the singer's accuser was 12 at the time he allegedly was molested. The boy was 13 at the time. Tuesday's article also said Jackson has had three No. 1 albums, and has had the most No. 1 hits of any male singer in history. Jackson has had five No. 1 albums. Bing Crosby had the most No. 1 hits, with 38; Jackson has had 13.
Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville has battled the prosecution and the defense, as well as the media, to keep the proceedings from becoming a carnival. What happens outside the courthouse, though, is another matter.
Fans poured into this town of 72,000, filling all hotels and motels. They came from Los Angeles and San Francisco, Germany, Japan and Norway.
"I have one God, and that is the man upstairs, but Michael Jackson is my biggest influence beyond my Lord and Savior," said Joseph Gultry, 20, who had traveled from Los Angeles in hopes of seeing his idol outside the courthouse in this rural town roughly 170 miles northwest of Los Angeles. "And hopefully, one day, I can follow in his footsteps as a singer."
Former Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Thomas predicted: "There's absolutely no doubt that it's going to be a circus outside the courthouse." But, he said, "Inside the courtroom, Judge Melville is going to be in total control."
"I think the only wild card, frankly, is how Michael Jackson reacts to being inside a courtroom every day listening to people accuse him. He's not used to people telling him what to do."
- Jackson Deliberations May Begin Friday Jun 01, 2005
- Jury Selection in Jackson Trial Delayed Feb 08, 2005
- Just Another Day Near Neverland Jun 07, 2005
