17 June 2005 - Larry King Interview with Thomas Mesereau, Senior Counsel

Larry King: You said you weren’t surprised by Michael Jackson’s acquittal. That means you were confident of a win. But most lawyers believe you can’t predict the jury’s verdict, and you can never be sure. Please explain that.

Thomas Mesereau: I was confident. I believed that we had discredited their case during the process of questioning the witnesses in a very compelling way. And I believed we had called very persuasive witnesses to the stand as well.

Larry King: What kind of client was Michael?

Thomas Mesereau: He’s an extraordinary client. Out of all the clients I’ve ever had, it was very easy to work with him. He’s very kind. Very dignified and well-mannered, and very cooperative. He’s a very, very respectful and honest person. And I truly enjoyed representing him, and I thought of him as a friend.

Larry King: Did the idea ever come up about calling Michael Jackson to the stand?

Thomas Mesereau: Yes. At first, I intended to call him to the stand, and he was willing to testify. But as the case moved forward, it became completely clear to me that Michael didn’t need to take the stand.

Larry King: Some people believed the prosecutor had been thinking about Michael Jackson all the time. Do you feel the same way?

Thomas Mesereau: Yes. I completely agree with that. I think they focused on their own personal beliefs and opinions about this case and their witnesses, rather than the facts. They were like that with the unprovable theories they were trying to prove. Because their theories were wrong. And I think the prosecutor’s fixation on Michael really hurt them.

Larry King: Do you think that fixation goes back to the settlement of the case from years ago?

Thomas Mesereau: Larry, I don’t know where it started. It seems to have begun back then and developed during the current case.
They never seriously questioned the accuser and his family, and even before they identified who they were, they believed their stories. In fact, it was us who uncovered all these objections about the witnesses, their records, and their life background. The prosecutor’s team really turned a blind eye to the truth. And even in the middle of this case, I think they tried to deny the truth—and that’s what caused them trouble.

Larry King: How effective was Macaulay Culkin?

Thomas Mesereau: He was very effective. He was an extraordinary witness for Michael Jackson, and I’ve always had a great deal of respect for Macaulay Culkin. He didn’t have to get involved in this, but he did it for his friend. He always said, “I want to be there. I want to help Michael. I want to tell the truth.” He was a very powerful factor and has a very strong character.

Larry King: We invited one of the jurors on the show last night. And he said he believes Michael is sexually deviant with children, and that it was the prosecutor who couldn’t prove his allegations. What’s your reaction to that kind of statement?

Thomas Mesereau: Well, I think he’s wrong. Michael Jackson is not sexually deviant with children. He’s never been. For years, the prosecutor tried to put together a story about it and prove it in court, and they couldn’t prove it. Michael Jackson is not a sexual deviant. He has never sexually abused a child, and he’s never even imagined doing such a thing.

Larry King: The astonishing thing is that when you have a client who’s different from everyone else—a man who sleeps in his bed with children—then you have to get your jurors to put themselves in your client’s place. If they do that, you win. How can someone put themselves in Michael Jackson’s shoes?

Thomas Mesereau: Well, first of all, Larry, the idea that Michael sleeps with children was created by the prosecutor’s imagination. What Michael has clearly said is that he allows families to stay in his room.
His room is two levels. The mothers sleep in that room, the fathers sleep, the sisters and brothers sleep. The prosecutor only mentioned the boys. Because he thought it could influence the jury—and ultimately it failed.

But yes, we had to explain to the jury who Michael Jackson really is. That he has a creative spirit and a kind heart, and that he’s an outstanding musician and choreographer, and a very sensitive person who has many concerns about the world and its problems. And he has a childlike inner spirit that draws children from all over the world to him.

We had to explain to them who he truly is, and we never tried to portray him as anything other than what he is. He never wanted to wear anything other than the courtroom attire. The goal for all of us is to show who Michael is, and to be proud of him and believe in him.

To be continued ...