The 47th Session — A Michael Jackson Employee Rejects the Claim That the Plaintiff’s Family Was Imprisoned

Joseph Marcus, on his second day on the witness stand, again spoke in defense of Michael. He was the fifth Michael employee to testify that he had never witnessed any inappropriate behavior by him toward children.

Marcus, who is currently the program manager for Michael Jackson at Neverland, rejected any orders from Michael to imprison the plaintiff and his family at Neverland. Marcus said that he had given security officers a note stating that the plaintiff and his brother and sister were not allowed to leave Neverland on February 19, 2003.

When he was asked whether anyone from Michael Jackson ever gave him an order about this, he answered, “Never.”

Previously, it had been claimed that Michael had instructed his security officers to prevent the plaintiff’s family from leaving Neverland. But in today’s session, Marcus said that this was his own decision, not Michael Jackson’s.

He explained the purpose of this action in the witness stand:

“Those children would travel in their cars to and from the entrances of Neverland. I was worried that at some point they might leave Neverland without supervision by an adult.”

He also noted that at that time they were involved in recording the second part of the documentary “Living with Michael Jackson,” and their presence at Neverland was only necessary until the recording was finished.

The prosecution claims that Neverland, with its zoo, amusement park, and video game halls, was a paradise for boys, but that in this dream place there was no space for girls.

Marcus, who has worked at Neverland for 18 years, said that girls and women were also present there in addition to boys, and that contrary to the prosecution’s claim, Michael did not only form friendly relationships with boys.

When the prosecutor asked Marcus whether Michael had close relationships with women other than his two former wives, Marcus mentioned Elizabeth Taylor and Lisa Minelli, the daughters of Judy Garland.

“Lisa Minelli was at Neverland and it seemed like they were good friends.”

Continuing, prosecutor Auchincloss asked with a hint of sarcasm, “Only two people—wasn’t there anyone else?”

Marcus said that other women also came and went to Neverland, but he did not intend to reveal their names.

He mentioned some relatives of Macauley Culkin and the sister of Shane Brando (one of Marlon Brando’s relatives) as girls who would come to Neverland for entertainment, naming Karlee Barnes, the sister of Brett Barnes—both of whom testified in favor of Michael in court.

In the previous day’s session, Marcus had said that during their stay at Neverland in February and March 2003, the plaintiff and his family seemed very happy and satisfied and were enjoying their time there.

Today, continuing his statements from the previous day, he said that at that same time he had once seen the plaintiff’s mother talking to Michael’s employees about their passports for flights to Brazil.

He also said that during those conversations, the plaintiff’s mother’s tone was in no way hostile or dissatisfied.

In 2003, during his police interviews, Marcus told investigators that alcohol was served at Neverland only twice. When prosecutor Auchincloss asked him about the accuracy of this claim, Marcus replied, “I believe it’s true.”

Auchincloss continued, “Only twice?”

Marcus answered, “Only at ceremonies.”

Auchincloss then continued asking Marcus about magazines that had been obtained from Michael’s home, and asked whether Michael showed these magazines to the children. When Auchincloss received a negative answer from Marcus, he showed him a photo of a statue of an almost nude woman and said that this picture had been found on Michael’s work desk—where, according to Marcus, children also came and went.

In response, Marcus said he did not consider the picture obscene. Rather, he said, it seemed to him like an artwork.

At the end, Marcus admitted that during his interviews—conducted during the police inspection of Neverland—he had lied about not knowing that boys were sleeping in Michael’s room. However, he was not asked anything about the reason for his initial denial of knowing about this matter.

Esdon claims that Marcus and other employees are lying about boys sleeping in Michael Jackson’s room because they support their famous employer and because it is how they make a living.

In this regard, defense attorney Robert Senger said that Marcus, during those interviews carried out when the police stormed Neverland, had had a day full of stress.

With less than five minutes left in the court session, Marcus said that during the mentioned interviews, Tom Esdon had rejected his request to have his defense attorney present.

Outside the courtroom, Raymond Beene, Michael Jackson’s spokesperson, said the trial would end in up to six weeks. He also said that the “Home Alone” star, Macauley Culkin, would appear on the witness stand tomorrow to refute the prosecution’s allegation that Michael Jackson sexually abused him.

Regarding the possibility of Michael appearing on the witness stand, Raymond Beene said he would follow the advice of the defense attorneys.

“Michael wants people around the world to know that he has never abused any child.”

Source: Court Tv / Associated Press / Yahoo News