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CNN Live Today
Jackson to be Charged This Afternoon
Aired December 18, 2003 - 10:19 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now on to the Michael Jackson case through the eyes of former prosecutor Christopher Darden. As we reported at the top of the hour, the self-proclaimed King of Pop will be formally charged this afternoon in a child molestation scandal that has dominated headlines for weeks.
Our legal analyst Chris Darden joins us from Los Angeles to separate everything that is taking place in this case. Chris, good morning. Thanks for being with us.
CHRISTOPHER DARDEN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning.
KAGAN: Besides the charges being filed this morning we expect to learn more about the basis of the charges. What will you be looking for when this all comes out?
DARDEN: Well number one, when the charges are filed and when we get a chance to look at the charging documents, they won't say a whole lot about the facts or details that underlie these charges. And we're likely to find out a whole lot more about the facts and details from the D.A. Tom Sneddon when he gives the press conference today.
But one of the things I'm going to be looking for is whether or not there's more than one victim, whether or not the number of victims exceed the 14-year-old boy we have all heard about and his younger brother.
I'm also going to be looking to find out whether or not there is substantial corroboration of any and all of the claims of child molestation that might be filed today.
KAGAN: What about trying to add the one extra charge of adding to the delinquency of a minor, perhaps the allegation that Michael Jackson was giving wine and alcohol to the kids?
DARDEN: Well, you know, that in and of itself in terms of it being a charged offense is minor. You know, that is contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
What is important and critical to Michael Jackson are these child molestation allegation that carry eight-year prison sentences. And if there are multiple acts charged Michael Jackson could very easily be looking at a life sentence in this case.
So that's the least of his problems.
KAGAN: Well, just the fact that charges would be filed makes it different then '93. But how else is this different than '93?
DARDEN: Well, because you had prior allegations in 1993, and new charges filed today, the prosecutors in Santa Barbara could introduce or attempt to introduce the 1993 allegations. In addition, the law...
KAGAN: During the trial they can do that, Chris?
DARDEN: Sure, they absolutely can. They can try and introduce at trial evidence of past acts of child molestation or sexual abuse by Michael Jackson. And the laws have been relaxed to allow prosecutors greater flexibility in terms of the types of evidence that they can introduce at trial (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
KAGAN: I want to ask you about the circus that is about to descend on Santa Maria, California. Tom Sneddon is using this Hollywood P.R. firm. Nobody understands a trial in a circus atmosphere better than you who was in the middle of the O.J. Simpson trial. What do you think it's going to be like in Santa Maria?
DARDEN: Oh it's going to be a zoo, a total and complete zoo. And I'm going to do everything I can to stay here in Los Angeles and not have to travel up to that courthouse.
But you know, the press is going to take over the town and they are going to take over the courthouse. And you can't fault the D.A. for hiring a P.R. firm. We shouldn't expect that that P.R. firm is going to try and spin the case for the D.A.'s office. But somebody has to handle all the media inquiries and media entities that are going to be requesting information in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the D.A.'s office.
KAGAN: It's going to be crazy. We'll have you help us sort it out as it moves on. Chris Darden in L.A., thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 18, 2003 - 10:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now on to the Michael Jackson case through the eyes of former prosecutor Christopher Darden. As we reported at the top of the hour, the self-proclaimed King of Pop will be formally charged this afternoon in a child molestation scandal that has dominated headlines for weeks.
Our legal analyst Chris Darden joins us from Los Angeles to separate everything that is taking place in this case. Chris, good morning. Thanks for being with us.
CHRISTOPHER DARDEN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning.
KAGAN: Besides the charges being filed this morning we expect to learn more about the basis of the charges. What will you be looking for when this all comes out?
DARDEN: Well number one, when the charges are filed and when we get a chance to look at the charging documents, they won't say a whole lot about the facts or details that underlie these charges. And we're likely to find out a whole lot more about the facts and details from the D.A. Tom Sneddon when he gives the press conference today.
But one of the things I'm going to be looking for is whether or not there's more than one victim, whether or not the number of victims exceed the 14-year-old boy we have all heard about and his younger brother.
I'm also going to be looking to find out whether or not there is substantial corroboration of any and all of the claims of child molestation that might be filed today.
KAGAN: What about trying to add the one extra charge of adding to the delinquency of a minor, perhaps the allegation that Michael Jackson was giving wine and alcohol to the kids?
DARDEN: Well, you know, that in and of itself in terms of it being a charged offense is minor. You know, that is contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
What is important and critical to Michael Jackson are these child molestation allegation that carry eight-year prison sentences. And if there are multiple acts charged Michael Jackson could very easily be looking at a life sentence in this case.
So that's the least of his problems.
KAGAN: Well, just the fact that charges would be filed makes it different then '93. But how else is this different than '93?
DARDEN: Well, because you had prior allegations in 1993, and new charges filed today, the prosecutors in Santa Barbara could introduce or attempt to introduce the 1993 allegations. In addition, the law...
KAGAN: During the trial they can do that, Chris?
DARDEN: Sure, they absolutely can. They can try and introduce at trial evidence of past acts of child molestation or sexual abuse by Michael Jackson. And the laws have been relaxed to allow prosecutors greater flexibility in terms of the types of evidence that they can introduce at trial (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
KAGAN: I want to ask you about the circus that is about to descend on Santa Maria, California. Tom Sneddon is using this Hollywood P.R. firm. Nobody understands a trial in a circus atmosphere better than you who was in the middle of the O.J. Simpson trial. What do you think it's going to be like in Santa Maria?
DARDEN: Oh it's going to be a zoo, a total and complete zoo. And I'm going to do everything I can to stay here in Los Angeles and not have to travel up to that courthouse.
But you know, the press is going to take over the town and they are going to take over the courthouse. And you can't fault the D.A. for hiring a P.R. firm. We shouldn't expect that that P.R. firm is going to try and spin the case for the D.A.'s office. But somebody has to handle all the media inquiries and media entities that are going to be requesting information in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the D.A.'s office.
KAGAN: It's going to be crazy. We'll have you help us sort it out as it moves on. Chris Darden in L.A., thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
