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CNN Live At Daybreak

Some Details About Boy Who Made Accusations Against Jackson

Aired November 24, 2003 - 05:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We must talk about Michael Jackson now. His fans and supporters have been going on the offensive since Jackson's arrest for child molestation. Small gatherings of Jackson fans held candlelight vigils around the world. The one you're looking at is in Las Vegas, where Jackson is taping a music video. Other vigils were planned in more than a dozen cities, from Los Angeles to Toronto to Rome.
And CNN has learned some details about the boy who made those accusations against Jackson.

Here's our Miguel Marquez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): According to a source close to the family pressing charges against Michael Jackson, the accuser is a boy from the Martin Bashir documentary that aired last February on ABC. The boy was 12 when the documentary was shot. Another source close to Jackson also confirms this.

Last June, the boy's family went to see Los Angeles Attorney Larry Feldman. Feldman took the boy to a therapist and after therapy referred the case to the Santa Barbara district attorney's office.

According to the source close to the family bringing the charges, Feldman has been retained as their attorney. Feldman will neither confirm nor deny it.

In 1993, Larry Feldman represented a family of another underage boy who alleged sexual misconduct against Jackson. That case ended with an out of court financial settlement.

CNN spoke to the attorney representing the father of the boy bringing the current charges. The boy's parents are estranged, in the middle of a custody battle. His attorney says he is making no allegations against Jackson.

H. RUSSELL HALPERN, ATTORNEY FOR ACCUSER'S FATHER: And he finds it difficult to believe that Mr. Jackson could have done these acts, because his impression of Mr. Jackson is he's a sincere, benevolent, good person.

MARQUEZ: A source close to Michael Jackson calls reporting about the case before formal charges have been brought to be speculation and totally irresponsible. Jackson's spokesperson, Stuart Backerman, says Jackson's team is getting their ducks lined up for a counterattack to set the record straight. He says Jackson is launching a Web site to get information out regarding the issues of this case. The spokesperson says Jackson faces great personal opposition from the likes of Santa Barbara District Attorney Thomas Sneddon, who, he says, wants to see Michael Jackson destroyed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That report from CNN's Miguel Marquez in Santa Barbara.

And you heard Miguel mention it, Jackson has launched that Web site to rebut allegations of child molestation. On it you will find this statement from the singer. I quote, "As you know, the charges recently directed at me are terribly serious. They are, however, predicated on a big lie. This will be shown in court and we will be able to put this horrible time behind us."

Much more on that Web site for you to look at.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Jackson>


Aired November 24, 2003 - 05:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We must talk about Michael Jackson now. His fans and supporters have been going on the offensive since Jackson's arrest for child molestation. Small gatherings of Jackson fans held candlelight vigils around the world. The one you're looking at is in Las Vegas, where Jackson is taping a music video. Other vigils were planned in more than a dozen cities, from Los Angeles to Toronto to Rome.
And CNN has learned some details about the boy who made those accusations against Jackson.

Here's our Miguel Marquez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): According to a source close to the family pressing charges against Michael Jackson, the accuser is a boy from the Martin Bashir documentary that aired last February on ABC. The boy was 12 when the documentary was shot. Another source close to Jackson also confirms this.

Last June, the boy's family went to see Los Angeles Attorney Larry Feldman. Feldman took the boy to a therapist and after therapy referred the case to the Santa Barbara district attorney's office.

According to the source close to the family bringing the charges, Feldman has been retained as their attorney. Feldman will neither confirm nor deny it.

In 1993, Larry Feldman represented a family of another underage boy who alleged sexual misconduct against Jackson. That case ended with an out of court financial settlement.

CNN spoke to the attorney representing the father of the boy bringing the current charges. The boy's parents are estranged, in the middle of a custody battle. His attorney says he is making no allegations against Jackson.

H. RUSSELL HALPERN, ATTORNEY FOR ACCUSER'S FATHER: And he finds it difficult to believe that Mr. Jackson could have done these acts, because his impression of Mr. Jackson is he's a sincere, benevolent, good person.

MARQUEZ: A source close to Michael Jackson calls reporting about the case before formal charges have been brought to be speculation and totally irresponsible. Jackson's spokesperson, Stuart Backerman, says Jackson's team is getting their ducks lined up for a counterattack to set the record straight. He says Jackson is launching a Web site to get information out regarding the issues of this case. The spokesperson says Jackson faces great personal opposition from the likes of Santa Barbara District Attorney Thomas Sneddon, who, he says, wants to see Michael Jackson destroyed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That report from CNN's Miguel Marquez in Santa Barbara.

And you heard Miguel mention it, Jackson has launched that Web site to rebut allegations of child molestation. On it you will find this statement from the singer. I quote, "As you know, the charges recently directed at me are terribly serious. They are, however, predicated on a big lie. This will be shown in court and we will be able to put this horrible time behind us."

Much more on that Web site for you to look at.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




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