Lisa Marie Presley: Larry King aired April 29, 2005

So what was happening in the Michael Jackson case on April 29 2005, well the Jury were asked to consider the two books (the covers) that were taken from Neverland during 1993 allegations. Remember there was significant negative media coverage all over America, about the Michael Jackson case.

http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/michael-jackson-trial-an-example-of/

So said Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen when he argued this morning for the admissibility of two books of pictorial essays containing pictures of nude boys that had been seized from Jackson’s Neverland Ranch by the Los Angeles Police Department as part of a previous investigation of earlier allegations of molestation by Jackson in 1993.

Defense lawyer Robert Sanger argued the evidence was too “remote in time,” irrelevant to the current case and would prejudice the jury with “innuendo.” “It’s just plain stale,” Sanger told Judge Rodney Melville. “At some point the court has to draw the line. This case really isn’t about 1993.” Ah, but in many ways it is since California law permits evidence of “prior bad acts” that demonstrate a “propensity” in child molestation cases.

And as such Melville allowed the books (Zonen had said that one book was about 90 percent pictures of nude boys and the other about 10 percent) to be admitted on the grounds that their “probitive value exceeds the prejudicial effect.”

With the jury returned to the courtroom, LAPD detective Rosibel Smith testified that she seized the books from a locked file cabinet in Jackson’s master-bedroom closet, but under cross examination by Sanger she said The Boy: A Photographic Essay appeared to have been a gift to Jackson from a fan, bearing the inscription, “To Michael from your (heart symbol) fan, XXXOOO, ‘Rhonda’,” and dated 1983.

The other book, Boys Will Be Boys, was inscribed by Jackson with this rhapsody, “Look at the true spirit of happiness and joy in these boys’ faces. This is the spirit of boyhood, a life I have never had and will always dream of. This is the life I want for my children.”

  

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/29/entertainment/main691878.shtml

  

http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/newsapril0517-30.html

“Debbie Rowe Praises Michael Jackson”

In yet another setback for the Prosecution, Michael Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe gave startling testimony in defence of her ex-husband in court yesterday.

Before testimony began, Judge Melville met privately with attorneys to discuss a request by the Defence to have Rowe’s testimony stricken, as it did not corroborate claims made by the Accuser’s Mother Janet Arvizo as the Prosecution had promised. By the end of Rowe’s favourable testimony for the Defence, the request was withdrawn.

The witness testified that she felt people working for Michael were “opportunistic vultures,” that were making money off of him according to the Associated Press. Rowe claimed that the rebuttal video she gave her interview for was sold for millions and the employees kept the money, she had particular harsh words for un-indicted alleged co-conspirator Marc Schaffel, (who’s home was used for the filming of the interview) saying that he bragged about the money he was making. “He just bragged about how he had taken advantage of an opportunity,” she said. “He said he was going to make sure Michael’s career was saved.” She continued, “He’s like everybody else around Mr. Jackson,” Rowe said. “He wouldn’t tell him everything. Obviously he’s full of ****,” the witness then apologised to the Judge for her swearing. “He was out to hurt Michael and in addition would hurt my children,” Rowe said.

Two other men that Rowe described as “vultures” were Dieter Weisner and Ronald Konitzer, who are also un-indicted alleged co-conspirators. She also described the three as liars, and described an incident where she claims she was set-up. On January 12th 2004, Michael’s advisers met in a Beverley Hills hotel and Rowe claimed she was invited to a Beverley Hills restaurant for lunch with Schaffel and Weisner on the same day, and that tabloid photographers were invited. The witness claimed it was a way of Schaffel getting even for not being invited to the meeting of advisers and that she had know knowledge of what was going on.

Rowe continued her harsh words for the three men, “There’s a number of times they don’t consult him,” she continyed, “Michael’s very easily manipulated, especially when he is scared,” she said according to the news-press. She also had harsh words for ex-lead Defence attorney Mark Geragos, when asked if it was one of the un-indicted alleged co-conspirators who had hired him, “I don’t know who picked him,” she testified. “But whoever did made a huge mistake. Come on. He either pleads out or loses.”

During direct questioning, Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen asked the witness how she felt about doing the interview for the rebuttal video, “I was excited to do it. I would get to see the children and could renew a relationship with Mr. Jackson.” When asked why that interested her, she responded, “They’re my family.” Rowe also stated her motivation for doing the interview was to see her children.”

When questioned during cross-examination by lead Defence attorney Tom Mesereau about her conversation with law enforcement being taped, Rowe became sarcastic. She turned to the Prosecutors table and said, “Damn you guys. You don’t share anything.” It later became clear she knew the conversations were being recorded according to the Santa Maria Times.

The attorney asked Rowe during cross-examination how she now feels about Michael, “I’ve always considered him my friend,” she answered. And you still do?” asked Mesereau. Rowe answered she did, adding, “If he’d talk to me.” The witness acknowledged that she had been kept away from her children, but did not blame Michael for this, but rather his advisers and lawyers dealing with the subject. At one point Rowe asked Mesereau if she ever met the attorney representing Michael in his custody case, before Mesereau could answer the witness quipped, “You don’t want to.”

Mesereau asked Rowe to describe her ex-husband in her own words, after taking a breath she responded, “Generous to a fault, good father, great with kids, puts other people ahead of him. Brilliant businessman.” She became tearful, “There’s different Michaels. There’s like my Michael and the Michael that everyone else sees,” she said. “That would be Michael the entertainer?” Mesereau asked. “Michael the entertainer, yeah,” Rowe said. Michael became tearful himself as he dabbed his eyes while the Mother of his two eldest children described him in such a good light.

The witness once addressed Michael when trying to clarify a concert tour of his that she went on with him. “What was the tour after ‘Bad?’ Was it the ‘HIStory’ tour or ‘Dangerous?’ Oh, it was ‘Dangerous.’”

Once Rowe had finished her testimony, her attorney Iris Finsilver took the stand. She testified that Schaffel could be heard twice during the recording of the interview saying, “Michael will be very pleased about this. You’ll go to the ranch and see your kids.”

Prosecutors announced to the court they expect to finish their case on Tuesday as more witnesses prepare to take the stand today.

  

So during this difficult time, you then see Lisa Marie on Larry King aired on 29th Apirl 2005, she spoke about her life, her father, album and briefly about her former husband.