Before you all say, "oh sheesh! not another Michael Jackson thread", I thought I'd just tell you that the verdict will be announced in a matter of days and I think it would be good if we had a thread discussing the verdict (predictions and what not). It might be a bit early to post this thread yet, because closing arguments actually don't start til Wednesday, but it gives us time to look over the last 20 months (yes, it has been that that long  :o ). It's been a bumpy ride. The day Michael Jackson was arrested (November 20, 2003) was one of the most eventual days of the year, and one of the biggest news stories of the year. Then Michael Jackson was in the news for weeks on end, with TV interviews, bombshells and what have you. People were just starting to get sick of hearing about Michael Jackson, when the trial officially started and everyone in the world let out a huge groan as they knew Michael Jackson would be dominating their TV screen for another 6 months. But now it's time to let out one big sigh of relief, because it's all over. What's even more impressive is that it's only taken 4 months, not 6 as legal experts the world over had originally predicted (sigh of relief).
Everyone in the world would have heard even a little bit about the trial and most people have some idea of what's going on (would want to, it's been drummed into us by the news stations since day one of the damn trial). What are your opinions? I'm not asking do you guilty or innocent, I'm asking do you think he will be found guilty or not guilty.
I have maintained since day one that he will be acquitted, and I'm even more confident now than I ever was. What do you think? Heaps of people agree with me, look...

81% of E! Online voters say he's 'Not Guilty' http://www.eonline.com/News/Specials/Jackson/Scorecard/050528.html#poll

41% of MSNBC voters say 'He will be acquitted for a lack of evidence'
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8008633/
(The same amount also say he might be found guilty of atleast one charge)

46% of Sparklit voters say he's 'Innocent'
http://vote.sparklit.com/poll.spark?pollID=897380

60% of under 18-yrs-old Home-on-the-net voter's say he's 'Innocent'
57% of over 18-yrs-old Home-on-the-net voter's also say he's 'Innocent'
http://home-on-the-net.com/artists/michaeljackson/

So the majority are saying not guilty, how about you?

I say the jury will return:

-GUILTY on serving the kiddies J-Juice

-NOT GUILTY on the molestation charges

-NOT GUILTY on the criminal restraint (ie kidnap to Brazil charges)

I think he is guilty, but I think he'll be acquitted of all the charges.

This is California we're talking about, the state that acquitted OJ Simpson and Robert Blake.

So the majority are saying not guilty, how about you?


Yeah, on online non-scientific polls.

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=987

He'll walk.  But I don't think he will ever make much of a career comeback.  Plus they say he is already broke.

I think he is guilty, but I think he'll be acquitted of all the charges.

This is California we're talking about, the state that acquitted OJ Simpson and Robert Blake.

And there was much stronger evidence against those two clowns!  But let's face it, OJ got off as payback for Rodney King.  Blake get off for two reasons:
1. The prosecution failed to meet the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard
2. Blake's "awww, jeez, whoah is me" demeanor got the jury's sympathy.

Jackson may not have stood as good a chance of aquittal if his accusers weren't as totally flaky as he is!

Oy...

Again, I keep neutral, but I think he'll walk. However, in another 5-10 years, this'll come up again.