Jackson jurors planning to pen books about trial – News-Press

[b]Jackson jurors planning to pen books about trial[/b] 8/5/05 By SCOTT HADLY NEWS-PRESS SENIOR WRITER Despite presenting a united front after their verdict to acquit Michael Jackson of child molestation, at least three book deals in the works suggest otherwise. Six jurors have banded together, secured an agent and are shopping a book proposal explaining why they believe the pop star was innocent, while two others are going it alone, saying he was guilty. Immediately after the trial, jurors spoke about their deliberations. At that time, Raymond Hultman, a 62-year-old civil engineer, explained that while he thought Mr. Jackson’s propensity to sleep with young boys indicated to him that the singer had likely molested boys, he said in this case the prosecution did not prove guilt. But Melissa Herard, one of six jurors working together on a book about the deliberations, said that’s not what she or other jurors took away from the trial. “I don’t believe that,” Ms. Herard said. “Ray’s entitled to his opinion, but I don’t believe (Mr. Jackson) was ever guilty of any of this.” Part of the motivation for writing a book as a group was to convey that most of the jurors felt the same way about the case, Ms. Herard said. An in-depth account of the trial and their deliberations would give the group a chance to explain some of the case’s more complicated aspects, she said. “It’s hard to get at that in comments about the case,” she said. “There was a lot of stuff that went on that doesn’t get conveyed.” From the jury box, Ms. Herard said she had the advantage of a direct line of sight with both the defense and prosecution and a clear, close-up view of the witnesses. “We saw their expressions, their mannerisms and how they responded to questions,” she said. “I don’t think (reporters) could see that from other parts of the courtroom.” … Source: http://news.newspress.com/topsports/080505jackson.htm