Post by MJSUNIFC on Mar 17, 2005 11:25:49 GMT -5
duluthnews.com reports-
Leno says Jackson's accuser contacted him, contradicting boy
BY MICHELLE CARUSO
New York Daily News
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - (KRT) - Jay Leno told cops he thinks Michael Jackson is "guilty" of child molestation, but the late night funnyman's expected testimony at the singer's trial may still boost the defense and show the young accuser to be a liar.
The "Tonight Show" host says he took "one or two" phone calls from the accuser and his mother, and they made a pitch for money that sounded like a "script," according to a transcript of Leno's interview with Santa Barbara County sheriff's officers that was reviewed by ABC News.
The bombshell report reveals Leno directly contradicts the 15-year-old accuser's sworn testimony on Monday that neither he nor his mother ever spoke to the TV host.
"I never spoke to Jay Leno," the boy said on the stand.
"You deny you've ever spoken to him?" Jackson's lawyer, Tom Mesereau, asked.
"Yeah," the kid insisted.
Leno told cops he had mixed feelings when he found out that the family who hit him up a few years ago was the same one accusing Jackson of child molestation and false imprisonment.
"Even though I think Michael Jackson is guilty, I still went, um, boy, they finally found a mark," he said.
Leno said he made the connection when he watched the Martin Bashir documentary "Living With Michael Jackson" and the boy's unusual name rang a bell when he appeared on-screen.
On the witness stand, the accuser admitted calling Leno's phone number when he was battling cancer a few years ago, but claimed he got an answering machine. The boy also denied his mother was present when he made the call, claiming it was a female family friend who was with him.
But Leno told cops a very different story.
"A while back the mother called, `Oh, my son, he's 12 years old, oh, he loves you,'" he told cops. The pitch made him suspicious. "I'm not that much of an egomaniac, I don't know why a 12-year-old would be infatuated with a 55-year-old guy who does political jokes ... and I said `Well, what can I do for you?'"
"It all sounded very rehearsed to me," he added.
An investigator asked Leno whether the mom and son were "looking for money."
Leno replied: "I think so. It just sounded a little suspicious. ... I don't know if he's reading from a script, but it just sounded coached."
The talk-show host is under subpoena and is expected to testify for the defense later in Jackson's trial.
Meanwhile, in new court testimony Wednesday, several cops testified for the prosecution about building the case against Jackson. But the singer's defense lawyer once more scored points on cross-examination.
Sgt. Steve Robel testified that the boy initially told cops he "believed" he may have been molested "five to seven times" but could only actually recall and describe two incidents.
Detective Paul Zelis testified that the accuser was uncertain about the time frame when he was molested and gave different accounts.
In a bid to paint Jackson as a sex fiend, District Attorney Tom Sneddon brought out numerous X-rated DVDs and magazines found at Jackson's home.
But as in a previous display, defense lawyer Mesereau was able to show that the dates on the items showed they were issued after the accuser spent his last day at Neverland.
www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/nation/11157421.htm
Leno says Jackson's accuser contacted him, contradicting boy
BY MICHELLE CARUSO
New York Daily News
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - (KRT) - Jay Leno told cops he thinks Michael Jackson is "guilty" of child molestation, but the late night funnyman's expected testimony at the singer's trial may still boost the defense and show the young accuser to be a liar.
The "Tonight Show" host says he took "one or two" phone calls from the accuser and his mother, and they made a pitch for money that sounded like a "script," according to a transcript of Leno's interview with Santa Barbara County sheriff's officers that was reviewed by ABC News.
The bombshell report reveals Leno directly contradicts the 15-year-old accuser's sworn testimony on Monday that neither he nor his mother ever spoke to the TV host.
"I never spoke to Jay Leno," the boy said on the stand.
"You deny you've ever spoken to him?" Jackson's lawyer, Tom Mesereau, asked.
"Yeah," the kid insisted.
Leno told cops he had mixed feelings when he found out that the family who hit him up a few years ago was the same one accusing Jackson of child molestation and false imprisonment.
"Even though I think Michael Jackson is guilty, I still went, um, boy, they finally found a mark," he said.
Leno said he made the connection when he watched the Martin Bashir documentary "Living With Michael Jackson" and the boy's unusual name rang a bell when he appeared on-screen.
On the witness stand, the accuser admitted calling Leno's phone number when he was battling cancer a few years ago, but claimed he got an answering machine. The boy also denied his mother was present when he made the call, claiming it was a female family friend who was with him.
But Leno told cops a very different story.
"A while back the mother called, `Oh, my son, he's 12 years old, oh, he loves you,'" he told cops. The pitch made him suspicious. "I'm not that much of an egomaniac, I don't know why a 12-year-old would be infatuated with a 55-year-old guy who does political jokes ... and I said `Well, what can I do for you?'"
"It all sounded very rehearsed to me," he added.
An investigator asked Leno whether the mom and son were "looking for money."
Leno replied: "I think so. It just sounded a little suspicious. ... I don't know if he's reading from a script, but it just sounded coached."
The talk-show host is under subpoena and is expected to testify for the defense later in Jackson's trial.
Meanwhile, in new court testimony Wednesday, several cops testified for the prosecution about building the case against Jackson. But the singer's defense lawyer once more scored points on cross-examination.
Sgt. Steve Robel testified that the boy initially told cops he "believed" he may have been molested "five to seven times" but could only actually recall and describe two incidents.
Detective Paul Zelis testified that the accuser was uncertain about the time frame when he was molested and gave different accounts.
In a bid to paint Jackson as a sex fiend, District Attorney Tom Sneddon brought out numerous X-rated DVDs and magazines found at Jackson's home.
But as in a previous display, defense lawyer Mesereau was able to show that the dates on the items showed they were issued after the accuser spent his last day at Neverland.
www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/nation/11157421.htm