Michael Jackson's Sudden Illness Halts Trial

Mr. Jackson became so sick while en route to court in Santa Maria, about 30 minutes from his Neverland Valley Ranch, that he was driven instead to a local hospital. The sudden illness caught Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville and even Jackson's own lawyers by surprise. "I did speak with Mr. Jackson by telephone this morning on the way to court and he said he was very ill," lead defense attorney Tom Mesereau told the judge after a hushed conference with his colleagues. "I'm told he's being examined by a doctor." More than 100 jury candidates sat idle for over an hour while the judge conferred in private with prosecutors and Jackson's attorneys and then, by telephone, with an emergency room doctor. Melville emerged from his chambers to announce that the 46-year-old Jackson had been admitted to the hospital and would not be able to attend court for at least several days, bringing audible groans from some of the would-be jurors. Since jury selection began on Jan. 31 in the sensational trial, potential jurors have only been summoned to court on four days. Melville was forced to cancel the proceedings last week after Mesereau's sister died. "HE HAS ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS" "Mr. Jackson is very ill with the flu. He has all of the symptoms we all have (with the flu)," Melville said after speaking with the doctor. He then dismissed the jury candidates until next Tuesday, saying that would give Jackson "ample time" to recover. The unexpected development sent dozens of reporters and camera crews scrambling from the courthouse in Santa Maria to nearby Marian Medical Center, where Jackson was being treated. A spokeswoman there declined comment.