法廷でマーク・シャッフェルの訴訟に関するマイケルの録音された証言テープを再生する

木曜日、マーク・シャッフェル氏に対するマイケル氏に対する金銭訴訟に関する訴訟の審理が行われ、マイケル氏の録画ビデオテープの一部が法廷で公開された。

この録画されたビデオを通じて、マイケルはマーク・シャッフェルの金銭的請求について証言しました。同氏はシャッフェル氏に賃金を支払ったと確信していると述べた。

「私は彼にお金を払ったと確信しています。」テープの中で、このことについてどうしたら自信を持って話せるのかと尋ねられたとき、彼はこう答えています。「彼はいつも幸せそうに見えたからです。」

弁護人は「幸福はお金をもたらさない」と答えた。

シャッフェルさんの弁護士ハワード・キング氏は陪審員に対し、マイケルさんは自分の財政の詳細は思い出せないと繰り返し述べていたと語った。

2005 年 9 月 23 日に録音されたこのテープでは、マイケルは暗い色のシャツを着ており、落ち着いた声で質問に答えています。彼は、シャッフェルが自分の奉仕の見返りとして報酬を受け取ることを期待していたかどうか尋ねられた。マイケルはこう答えます。

「もちろん、彼が私に何かを求めていたことはわかっています。彼が私に支払うよう求めた多額の請求書を覚えています。」

キング氏は、マイケル氏の元財務アドバイザー数名を法廷に出廷させ、彼らの職歴やマイケル氏との金銭契約について証言させるつもりだと述べた。

The day before, Mandle, Michael’s attorney, had said in court that after the pop superstar learned about Shaffel’s involvement in producing gay pornography, he cut ties with him.

On Thursday, King explained his client’s background in this area. He said: “Mr. Shaffel has a successful business record. And one of these successful business activities was producing legal adult entertainment products. In the year 2000, he ended his activity in this field and began working for Mr. Jackson.”

On this day, Mandle also said in his statements that Michael is known for forgetfulness, and he accused Shaffel of taking advantage of this trait of Michael and transferring Michael’s funds from his personal account into his own pocket, while still sending Michael invoices to be paid even after he had been dismissed.

He continued that a comprehensive financial report from Michael’s accounts shows that in fact it is Shaffel who owes Michael. The large amounts that had been delivered by Shaffel to Michael were actually paid by other people, and Shaffel didn’t spend from his own pocket.

Shaffel is obsessive about keeping receipts. He kept track of every penny spent. But he did not keep any receipts or documents proving that his expenses were paid by マイケル・ジャクソン.

Mandle confirmed his point by showing the receipt for the purchase of a $5.17 Mexican pastry.

He added: “The evidence shows that Mr. Shaffel should have been satisfied with what he had. He could have escaped the law while pocketing a lot of Michael’s money. But he filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Michael.”

The defense attorney further confirmed that Shaffel is owed $500,000 for holding the rights to two television specials that he produced for Michael, but that issue is not related to this case.

Allan Whitman, Michael’s former business manager who had worked for Michael for a long time, was the first witness called by King.

Whitman was dismissed from his job this week after changes Michael made to his management team. He said his firing had nothing to do with this case, but he did not provide further details. He gave a comprehensive account of the financial advisers Michael hired and then later removed, and said that Michael fired those who had the most control over his financial activities.

He added that some of them received $100,000 for a month of work, while others—because they were like Ron Burkle, a billionaire, and Alvin Malnik, an investor—offered their services as a favor.

He continued by saying that during the six years he worked for Michael, he met him only once and occasionally contacted him by phone.