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Jackson stands before prospective jurors Dressed in a bright white suit and a jewel-trimmed vest and belt, Michael Jackson on Monday stood before the first group of prospective jurors who could decide his fate on charges he molested a teenage cancer patient and plied the boy with alcohol at his Neverland Ranch.
The pop superstar, accompanied by four defense lawyers, stood and smiled as he faced prospective jurors for the start of jury selection in what could become the most sensational celebrity trial the world has ever seen. He greeted the clerk with a handshake at the courthouse in this small city in central California about 15 miles from the coast.
Outside, several hundred fans from around the world pressed up against a chain-link fence and shouted words of encouragement, holding up signs that read, "Dear God, Please Give Michael Justice" and "France Supports and Loves MJ."
Fans danced and sang a Jackson song attacking the district attorney and booed a woman who held a sign backing the accuser. Still, the scene was not as crazy as a year ago at Jackson's arraignment when 1,500 or more watched the star dance on an SUV outside the courthouse.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, whom Jackson has derided in a song as a "cold man" with a vendetta, did not come to court. A deputy represented the prosecution.
Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting a teenage boy — then 13, now 15 — and plying him with alcohol.
On Sunday, Jackson issued a court-approved video statement on his Web site, predicting he would be acquitted. His parents also spoke out in his defense Monday, saying the young accuser was after his money.
"I know my son, and this is ridiculous," his mother, Katherine Jackson, said in an interview broadcast on CBS' "The Early Show." She said people who believe her son is guilty "don't know him."
Judge Rodney Melville told prospective jurors that they might have to serve for about six months, but that it was an important duty. Jury selection itself could last a month or longer.
"Most of us have relatives who have fought and died to protect this service," Melville said. "Freedom is not free. Jury duty is part of the cost of freedom."
Three-hundred prospective jurors came to court Monday in two groups. The pool was predominantly white, about a quarter Hispanic and with only a handful of black prospects. Another 300 were to be processed Tuesday, followed by 150 on Wednesday.
By day's end, Melville had listened to 138 people ask to be excused, but the only person he dismissed immediately was a woman who was eight months pregnant.
Those not excused will fill out questionnaires, and then will be questioned individually by the attorneys. The judge wants 12 jurors in addition to eight alternates.
The small-town feel of the jury pool was apparent during questioning. One woman ran a pet shop, while another was in local real estate. One woman said she could get a medical excuse from her doctor across the street. A few said they have friends who work at Jackson's Neverland ranch.
One woman said she worked at an elementary school where she dealt with "people that need counseling for molestation."
Other prospective jurors said they had to care for sick relatives or had too many job responsibilities. One woman said that at 75, she was "just too old."
"You don't look a day over 60," the judge replied.
The woman said she was willing to serve if she had to, but noted she had "a multitude of illnesses." A white man said that during a stint in jail he got into a dispute between a black prisoner and a white prisoner and had been branded a racist, even though he was not. Another prospect said he is chief launch coordinator at nearby Vandenberg Air Force Base. He said he has two launches in the near future and cannot take time off to be a juror. When another woman said she had to be home every night to care for her mother, the judge told her that she would be home every night. "Don't they lock juries up, too?" the prospect asked, inquiring if the judge could guarantee she would get home. "Oh yeah, I'm going home every night," said Melville, who intends to end each day of trial by 2:30 p.m. One man said he couldn't serve because his employer wouldn't pay him while he was on jury duty. "Your employer doesn't pay jury service?" asked Melville. "He's an attorney, no sir," the man said.
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