Category: MJEOL BULLET

Tab Reporter Gets the Ax Amidst Criticism of being Unfair and Unbalanced? – MB #283 Dimond splits from Court TV, but is still oblivious as to why some consider her to be pro-prosecution “It was bound to happen,” one person commented when they heard the news of tabloid (tab) reporter Diane Dimond exiting Court TV in late August 2005. Whether she “exited” or was tossed out on her Jackson-scandal-chasing-ass, the news broke August 28 2005 much to the surprise of some. According to MediaBistro, who got their information from Dimond’s fansite, Court TV “dismantled Diane Dimond’s investigative unit.” I’m not sure what’s more laughable: the fact that she had an “investigative unit” or that she has a fansite. Dimond is often accused of impersonating an investigative journalist and to some observers much of her Jackson coverage appeared to be a negatively spun, bastardized version of the truth. In my opinion, the unbelievably biased and pro-prosecution slant Dimond gave to her reporting caused scores of people to become alarmed. Some critics say she reported information in a way which would have been best suited on an advocacy website or a talk radio show.

Arvizo Charged with Defrauding Welfare System, Facing Jail Time – MB#282 Update Recommended bail is set at $5o,000; Arraignment set for Sept 7 AUGUST 24 2005 – Janet Arvizo, the mother of the accuser in the Michael Jackson trial, has been charged with 5 felony counts of welfare fraud and perjury. It’s nice to know there are actually officials in power who have enough cojones to look at the facts and prosecute someone who has actually committed a crime, instead of going after Jackson. Jackson was acquitted on all 14 counts – 10 felony counts and 4 misdemeanor counts – on June 13 2005. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Bureau of Fraud and Corruption Prosecution filed felony charges Tuesday (August 23) saying the felonious fraud hid hundreds of thousands of dollars from the welfare system while claiming she was indigent. The news broke with not even half the amount of attention the broadcast media devoted to Jackson when police invaded his Neverland Ranch looking for evidence that never existed. There were no 10 – 15 minute segments talking about this breaking news story. No breaking into programming of the networks to report the news of Arvizo being charged. No live reports outside of the Arvizos’ house. And no string of inane, speculative conversations with people who know very little about the facts of the case. I can only assume the aforementioned treatment is only reserved for negative Michael Jackson stories.

Ludicrous Bartucci Claims Revealed Months Earlier – MB #281 Some media slow, as usual, with presenting details of Bartucci’s shady past AUGUST 18 2005 – With news about the ludicrous claims from Joseph Barticci – allegedly being held hostage in a limo at age 18, and being sliced with razors by Jackson – the rabid, Jackson-obsessed sect of the media is attempting to run amok with this story. Most people hearing the “repressed memory” allegation that in 1984, an 18 year old Bartucci was held for days in a limo and sexually assaulted at gunpoint, rightly see this as the ridiculous allegation it is. However, some in the media who have used Jackson-related stories to increase their ratings, as well as some who want Jackson’s blood, are presenting the story as if it’s a serious news event. Take the ratings-chasing Rita “NOI” Cosby of MSNBC, for example. Her Jackson segment last night (August 17) was long on allegations from Bartucci’s lawyer and short on truth. Though attorney Brian Oxman did his best to counter the allegations, his air time was severely limited in favor of Bartucci’s lawyer. Nutty-ass “journalists” run from the truth like mythical vampires run from crucifixes. However, it took the entertainment-based Celebrity Justice (CJ) to dig out other aspects of this story almost a year ago when the lawsuit was initially filed.

Traitorous Jurors Get No Love from Media, Public, Fellow Jurors – MB #280
Despite the media’s discontent, they’re getting it wrong…again

AUGUST 13 2005 — The jurors who have flip-flopped seemingly for the pursuit of financial gain have found very little sympathy from the media, the public and their fellow jurors. These jurors have seemingly become the poster children from what’s wrong with the legal justice system as it relates to celebrity trials.

Besides the timing of these allegations from Eleanor Cook and Ray Hultman, people are questioning the sincerity of what they allegedly believe about Michael Jackson. Even their fellow jurors are speaking out at the allegations leveled against them.

In post-trial interviews, Hultman and Cook both have said that the evidence for a conviction just was not there. Now, they’re claiming the evidence pointed towards guilt, but that they were bullied and threatened to vote not guilty. Please!

The media is already missing the plot in this, though. Although the media have rightly been openly disdainful of the actions of these two, they are still treating this situation as if ‘guilty’ was the correct verdict; acting like they are angry at the pair for not convicting Jackson. This, in itself, is ridiculous.

They got it right the first time when they voted to acquit Jackson. But a lot of media are not dissecting the story in this way. More often than not, they are not pointing out numerous contradictory statements Cook and Hultman made in post-verdict interviews. They are not bringing attention to the attitudes of these two right after the verdict.

Two Jurors Change Tune to Cash-In? – MJEOL Bullet #279 This, while another juror actually believed the tall tales of Gavin Arvizo AUGUST 7 2005 – “What the hell is wrong with those 2 jurors?” asked a friend of mine after hearing media reports about the shenanigans allegedly engaged in by 79 year old Eleanor Cook and 62 year old Raymond Hultman. They are the first two to get book deals, reportedly, and they are also the two who are now singing a different tune. Surprise, surprise. Meanwhile, a third juror actually believed the conflicting and unbelievable tales woven by Gavin Arvizo according to the tabloid the NY Post. According to published and broadcast reports, the two flip-flopping jurors, Cook and Hultman, are claiming Jackson is really guilty of something – after voting for acquittal…and just in time for their upcoming books. Imagine! Some in the public thought Jackson was just being overly sensitive or paranoid when he and his supporters say that people will do anything or act in any inappropriate way to make money off of him.

Just what in the hell is going on with two Michael Jackson trial jurors, Ray Hultman and Eleanor Cook? They

Mesereau Speaks on Jackson, Bashir and the Trial – MB#278 JULY 31 2005 — The attorney who represented Michael Jackson did two radio interviews last week about the law and Michael Jackson. Mesereau –himself described as an ethical fighter of injustice — described Jackson as a “gentle, kindhearted, nice person” during an interview with Radio 5 in the UK on July 26 2005. He calls Jackson one of the nicest human beings he’s ever encountered (see Radio 5 interview). What some people may not yet know is that throughout his career, Mesereau has spent a great deal of his time representing people who aren’t famous; people who can’t afford to get a good lawyer. He’s volunteered his time and given out advice free of charge. He is certainly not your average “celebrity defense attorney.” Mesereau has two goals when he meets people and prepares to defense them, he says: (1.) to make sure innocent people aren’t convicted, and (2.) to make sure prosecutors and law enforcement don’t abuse their authority. This came about, says Mesereau, because of his belief that there is sometimes a tendency for people in power to abuse it in some way; sometimes without consciously knowing they’re doing it.

Prosecutors Unlawfully Withholding Jackson Property? – MB #277 JULY 6 2005 — The prosecutors in the Michael Jackson “case” appear to be, still, violating Jackson’s rights by refusing to release property seized from him during the trial which resulted in a total acquittal. The defense filed a motion in court after Jackson’s acquittal, on 10 felony counts and 4 misdemeanor counts, requesting that the judge order Jackson’s property to be returned. The prosecution replied that they want to keep the material just in case other “investigations” arise in the future. For the record, they have no legal authority to continue to hold onto Jackson’s property indefinitely “just in case” of another “investigation” sometime in the future. Quite frankly, it sounds suspicious; as if they are planning on a future “investigation”. You don’t get to keep a person’s personal property just because you feel like it. I guess prosecutors have been talking to Ms. Cleo; free reading and all. Perhaps they have….uh…..”lost” some of Jackson’s valuable personal property and don’t want the defense finding this out. Whatever the reason, Jackson’s attorneys responded to the prosecution’s ridiculous excuses for continuing to hold onto property which doesn’t belong to them.

In Wake of Trial, Mostly Shallow & Insulting Reports from Media — MB #276 JUNE 22 2005 — In the wake of Michael Jackson being cleared by a mostly white, conservative Santa Maria jury on 10 felony counts, there have been mostly fatuous reports about how his celebrity “got him off” and about how “stupid” the jurors were. Latched onto that lazy bandwagon are the arrogant talking heads pretending to know what they are talking about; trying to retry Jackson based on his possession of legal pornography, legal alcohol and legal books, all in an effort to make themselves feel better. Just how do you derive an illegal activity based on legal activities? Well, you simply ignore the facts, pretend you know what you’re talking about, and wail incessantly, all while stabbing your finger into the air on camera like a hysterical banshee. Or you can get your information from tabloid reporter Diane Dimond; whichever is simpler. The media certainly got their faces cracked wide open with this acquittal. And after the trial, they seemed to have moved on because the outcome wasn’t as financially advantageous as they were hoping. The media in general have been woefully inadequate at asking tough, in-depth questions about the prosecution (persecution) of the acquitted Jackson. They have thus far refused to ask just why in hell this “case” got this far in the first place, especially with so many things wrong concerning the various and contradictory stories the accusing family told.

Foreman: Jason Francia Not Too Credible Either, No Proof of Guilt – MB#275
Not all Jackson jurors feel the way media-touted Juror #1 feels

JUNE 16 2005 — As some of the media recover from their stunned outrage that an innocent Jackson wasn’t convicted, others are left to dissect what some of the jury members really think.

A number of the jurors don’t believe Jackson has ever molested anyone. For example, juror Susan Drake told the Santa Maria Times that she doesn’t believe Jackson ever behaved inappropriately with children (see Jurors talk about the choice made (June 15 2005) – Santa Maria Times ).

Two female jurors, both with children, appeared on the Today Show June 15 2005 to discuss the case (see  Today: 2 Female Jurors speak out June 14 2005 ).

When pressed, juror Melissa Herard actually said she would let her children visit Neverland under her supervision. If she thought he was guilty of anything, she certainly wouldn’t have said that.

Both Herard and another juror, Tammy Bolton, said there is no evidence that Jackson had ever molested anyone.

In response to Raymond Hultman and his many….many interviews saying Jackson “could be” a molester, Bolton flat out said she doesn’t agree, and that’s one of the reasons why she made the decision she made.  She told the host, “I don’t feel that was proven to me.”

Herard said she’s confident of Jackson’s innocence and made the point that there hasn’t been a trial before this one concerning any of the other allegations.