Explanation of the 33rd session

On the last day of her appearance on the witness stand, the complainant’s mother claimed that she is not trying to get money from Michael Jackson and that she is only seeking justice for her son.

According to her, “Money doesn’t bring happiness.”

Continuing his questions about the complainant’s mother’s prior complaint against a store security officer, Mesereau said, “And one year after that incident, you changed your mind and decided to file a complaint?” In 1998, the complainant’s family was arrested by the store’s security officers along with clothing they had stolen from a store. The complainant’s mother claims that the security officers beat her husband and her son (the current complainant). She also claims that one of those officers, named J.C. Penney, sexually abused her. In her complaint, the mother of the family brings her allegations against the security officers. After some time, she denies the allegations she had made against J.C. Penney in order to remove the case from the criminal process and be able to settle by receiving $152,000 and withdraw her complaint against the store’s officers. A year later, she again tries to file a complaint against J.C. Penney, but this time her lawyers do not accompany her in that effort, and the case remains closed.

Mesereau, referring to the complainant’s mother’s affidavit in that case, said, “You said you were like a crushed cockroach?”

In response, the complainant’s mother said, “Actually, I wanted to give them a mental picture of what had happened.”

According to her, at that time her husband had not helped her at all and had only watched her being beaten.

The prosecution showed photographs in court that, according to them, were taken of the complainant’s mother’s bruised body at that time. Mesereau also stated that the injuries from the beating by the witness’s former husband were evidence that, for years, the family had said he had been subjecting them to physical abuse.

The complainant’s mother was also asked about financial help from celebrities for her son’s medical expenses (the Jackson complainant).

She said she was unaware of her former husband’s requests for money from famous people such as Chris Tucker, George Lopez, and Louie Palanker. She also denied talking to Jay Leno. She also said she knew nothing about the charitable activities these comedians did to raise money for her sick son.

In response to the witness’s statements, the defense attorney admitted that she had opened a personal account in a bank in her own name for depositing public donations.

In the end, she accepted a $10,000 check from Palanker, but claimed that her former husband had taken that money for himself.

Mesereau asked, “Do you remember spending the money you received to cover your son’s medical expenses on cosmetic procedures?”

“No, I used a credit card.”

Mesereau’s meaning in asking this question was completely clear.

“Money might not bring happiness. But a mother who is covered by medical services, and when her son is dying from cancer, undergoes cosmetic surgeries—she wants money more than prayers.”

Source: AP / Reuters / Santa Maria Times