Key events in the Micheal Jackson trial
<b>August 1993: </b>Los Angeles police launch a criminal probe of Jackson following the disclosure by a 13-year-old boy to his therapist that he was sexually molested by the pop star.
August 1993: Los Angeles police launch a criminal probe of Jackson following the disclosure by a 13-year-old boy to his therapist that he was sexually molested by the pop star.
January 1994: Lawyers for the boy and Jackson say the singer has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement ($23 million). Prosecutors announce no charges will be filed.
February 2003: A British documentary in which Jackson defends his practice of sharing his bed with boys prompts an investigation by child welfare officials. The inquiry is dropped after the 13-year-old boy featured in the documentary denies being molested.
June 2003: A Los Angeles psychologist alerts child welfare officials that the same boy told him he was abused, prompting an investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
November 2003: Jackson is booked on suspicion of child molestation two days after police raid Neverland Valley Ranch. He denies the accusations and is freed on a $3 million bond.
December 2003: Jackson is charged with seven counts of committing “lewd acts†on a young boy and plying him with alcohol.
January 2004: Jackson pleads innocent at the Santa Maria courthouse.
April 2004: Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville unseals 10-count grand jury indictment against Jackson, who pleads innocent .
February 2005: Opening statements in trial begin. Jackson’s lead defense attorney Tom Mesereau attacks the mother of Jackson’s accuser as a grifter with a history of making false claims for financial gain.
March 2005: Melville threatens to arrest Jackson after the singer fails to appear at the start of the second day of testimony by his accuser. The entertainer shows up wearing pajamas and complaining of back injury.
Judge rules prosecutors can introduce evidence of past sexual misconduct dating back to the 1990s. This opens the door to testimony about Jackson’s 1993 accuser and a second boy who settled a lawsuit against him for $2 million in the 1990s.
May 4, 2005: Prosecutors rest their case after calling 85 witnesses and introducing more than 500 pieces of evidence.
May 25, 2005: Defense rests its case after calling 50 witnesses over 15 days.
June 3, 2005: Defense and prosecution wrap up closing arguments and judge turns the case over to the jury of eight women and four men to begin deliberations.
June 13, 2005: Jackson found not guilty on all charges.
January 1994: Lawyers for the boy and Jackson say the singer has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement ($23 million). Prosecutors announce no charges will be filed.
February 2003: A British documentary in which Jackson defends his practice of sharing his bed with boys prompts an investigation by child welfare officials. The inquiry is dropped after the 13-year-old boy featured in the documentary denies being molested.
June 2003: A Los Angeles psychologist alerts child welfare officials that the same boy told him he was abused, prompting an investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
November 2003: Jackson is booked on suspicion of child molestation two days after police raid Neverland Valley Ranch. He denies the accusations and is freed on a $3 million bond.
December 2003: Jackson is charged with seven counts of committing “lewd acts†on a young boy and plying him with alcohol.
January 2004: Jackson pleads innocent at the Santa Maria courthouse.
April 2004: Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville unseals 10-count grand jury indictment against Jackson, who pleads innocent .
February 2005: Opening statements in trial begin. Jackson’s lead defense attorney Tom Mesereau attacks the mother of Jackson’s accuser as a grifter with a history of making false claims for financial gain.
March 2005: Melville threatens to arrest Jackson after the singer fails to appear at the start of the second day of testimony by his accuser. The entertainer shows up wearing pajamas and complaining of back injury.
Judge rules prosecutors can introduce evidence of past sexual misconduct dating back to the 1990s. This opens the door to testimony about Jackson’s 1993 accuser and a second boy who settled a lawsuit against him for $2 million in the 1990s.
May 4, 2005: Prosecutors rest their case after calling 85 witnesses and introducing more than 500 pieces of evidence.
May 25, 2005: Defense rests its case after calling 50 witnesses over 15 days.
June 3, 2005: Defense and prosecution wrap up closing arguments and judge turns the case over to the jury of eight women and four men to begin deliberations.
June 13, 2005: Jackson found not guilty on all charges.