(no subject)

[ceebeegee]

Fucking useless jurors:

But she and other jurors seemed to blame Jackson's accuser, and the accuser's mother, as much as Jackson. "Speaking for myself and other jurors, we thought, 'What parent in her right mind would allow that to happen? Not just [sleeping with] Michael Jackson, but anyone?' "

Um, helloooo?! Why would that be a danger if MJ is innocent? You just invalidated your "not guilty." Fucking stupid, stupid little famewhores, all smiling and happy now that they can be on CNN and get their book deals. They look like they've won the fucking lottery.



I hope they rot in hell. Along with MJ's nose.

Comments

[walltack.livejournal.com]

That picture looks more like people on Contestants Row in The Price is Right than jurors. Oy!

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

I want to slap that stupid bint clapping her hands. She's the one that got all indignant about the accuser's mother snapping her fingers at them, and offered that as justification for their finding her testimony un-credible. I'm just shaking my head at this.

[carasol.livejournal.com]

Not surprising that the person saying that is a woman. Kinda surprising that she'd say this regarding a child, even a male child, though. You remember what Mastrosimone said in his essay on Extremities, how women want to blame the victim for assaults so that they can believe it won't happen to them? I guess that instinct overrides even maternal instincts. "The kid deserved it for sleeping in his bed, anyway. I'd never let my kid do that, so it won't happen to me or mine."

And I have to say, guilty though I believe Jackson is, the picture the prosecution painted of the defendants was not very flattering. Whereas the previous case sounded very genuine, this family sounded like they were after money (ie, asking MJ and his friends for "gifts"). The last case ended in a huge settlement for the kid-- does anyone know if such an offer was made in this one? If, after all the stories about the defendant's repeated requests for "gifts," the family turned down a settlement offer, that would certainly say more about their goals-- justice vs. cash.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

the picture the prosecution painted of the defendants was not very flattering

You mean the defense painted of the accuser's family, right?

Oh sure, they weren't ideal but you can't always pick and choose your victims, and most pedophiles target dysfunctional families anyway. My heart sank as soon as I heard about the mother's testimony--she sounds crazy--but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. The kid's testimony is what mattered, and those 12 people listened to that kid and said fuck you.

God, I'm just so angry about this.

[carasol.livejournal.com]

*slaps forehead* Yes, that's what I meant. Not enough coffee this morning.

And of course, attackers usually prey on the weak. It's never the victim/survivor's fault at all if s/he is attacked-- but it doesn't build sympathy when the accuser has asked frequently for money and the accused is rich and famous. And of course, asking for money does not justify assault or abuse, but it makes it very easy for the defense to come up with a reason for the charge, and for the juries to find a reason to acquit.

And at the risk of sounding like I'm blaming the kid or his family (which I'm totally not), while assault is always the assailant's fault, there are basic step one can take to avoid situations that could end in assault. Don't walk down unlit streets alone. Don't leave your drink open for spiking. And if someone has a long reputation of molesting children (or anyone else), stay the hell away from him!! Geeze. The jurors are dumber, but after the first allegations and settlement, this family was pretty damn stupid to leave their boy alone with an accused child molester.

[wonderpanther.livejournal.com]

I really try to keep the faith in the jury system. I think that the original concept was a great one but its execution in this day and age is just not right. You win or lose a case after jury selection, in most situations. It is also amazing that criteria for serving on a jury is generally lack of education and knowlegde.

[wonderpanther.livejournal.com]

I think that there is a basic misunderstanding about the burden of proof. There was evidence of prior and current molestation. The jury decided that it was not credible. I am not sure what they meant by wanting "better evidence." The burden is not "with no doubt" it is "beyond a reasonable doubt." It appears from the interview that the foreman was convinced to that degree but decided that the evidence was not good enough to justify his feelings.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

When I served as juror, the judge told us we were allowed to use our common sense, that was an allowable tool or resource. It astounds me that these 12 people all appear to have no common sense. And yes, I see your point about lack of education and knowledge. We were also told that we were there to decide the facts--the judge decided the law, but we decided the facts. Two prior settlements to head off molestation charges, plus numerous interviews where the freak defends sleeping with boys, plus numerous accounts of inappropriate behavior from employees, plus direct testimony from the victim, plus common sense adds up to overwhelming evidence. It's a sex charge. You're not going to get it on tape, and it's unlikely there will bodily damage. What the fuck more do you need? You are there to decide the facts.

I also think there are a lot of people out there who are very confused about child molestation--one sicko on the Washington Post forum was even saying he blamed the boy, that even if something happened it was as much his fault, that children are so sexual these days that they're having sex at "8 or 9--it's happening all over." Man, I want to leap through the screen and throttle that fucker. I think there's a lot of fuzziness about where the burden of responsibility lies--always with the adult--and how victims respond.

[xinher.livejournal.com]

Last night on the Craig Ferguson Late Show, he made a (somewhat true) comment about how flawed the California legal system is. OJ, Robert Blake, and now MJ. He then said, "If I were Phil Specter, I'd be pretty confident right about now."