Juror attends Jackson family casino bash

[LynneSin]

Maybe if she takes her kids she can arrange for a sleepover for them at Michael's place :grr:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MICHAEL_JACKSON_PARTY?SITE=DEWIL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Juror attends Jackson family casino bash

By LINDA DEUTSCH
AP Special Correspondent

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (AP) -- Michael Jackson's family and fans - and at least one of the jurors who acquitted him of child molestation - gathered Friday night for a huge party that was billed as a celebration of thanks. The pop star himself, who has not appeared in public since his 14-week trial ended Monday, was nowhere in sight.

Among the approximately 400 people who arrived at the Chumash Indian Casino was juror Pauline Coccoz. When she walked into the casino and heard Jackson's music playing, Coccoz said, the enormity of what had transpired hit her.

"They were playing 'Beat It,' and I almost started to cry," she said as she waited to enter the showroom. She said that earlier in the day, she had received a wristband needed for admission to the party.

[lazarus]

1. Not that surprising

I just finished a six week jury service, a murder trial. We acquitted. I spent a good hour or so with the defendant, his mother, and his attorney, discussing the case, etc. After that much time, I felt that I did know him, and they were interested in my perspective on things, especially since I was somewhat influential in the decision.

[wakeme2008]

4. Good for you and her

I see nothing wrong talking to the defendant in a case after the jury acquits.

[fasttense]

8. Did you get to spend any time with the victims?

Did they get to find out why no one was convicted for the death of their loved one(s)?

[BiggJawn]

11. Uh, maybe because the cops arrested the WRONG PERSON??

Hey, i know popular folklore states that the Thin Blue Line is more Infallable than the Pope, and if they light your ass up with Bernie's Buzzer, you bloody well deserved it, but could you POSSIBLY entertain the idea that THIS is why we have Trial by Jury instead of just allowing the cops to shoot people they arrest in the street?

Me personally? I wouldn't spend time with either group, but least of all the victim's family. What am I going to say to them after some Nancy Grace-wannabee spent weeks or months pumping them up about how the guy I just acquitted was SO guilty that he was getting ready to sprout horns?

[fasttense]

12. Shouldn't the victim be treated with the same respect as the accused????

I see between your insults that you assumed I thought the guy was guilty. Wrong assumption. I've sat in on Courts Martials, which are similar to juries. After the verdict, we spent time with the prosecutor and explained why his case fell apart. The victim was present (though it was not a murder case). It was a simple question.

[BiggJawn]

16. Insults?

What insults?

You didn't think the guy was guilty? Then please explain this statement:

"Did they get to find out why no one was convicted for the death of their loved one(s)?"

Please tell me how they would answer that.

I think "Because the police arrested the WRONG person" was a more than suitable answer.

You've sat on Courts Martial. Very good. this was a CIVILIAN criminal procedure. Apple and Oranges.

And sitting down wioth the prosecuter and telling him where he fucked up is a HELL of a lot diferent than sitting down with the victim's family and explaining "why no one was convicted for the death of their loved one(s)?"

Grow a hide. A THICK one.

[fasttense]

20. Yes, Insults

You are patronizing and rude, you explain the obvious as if I don't know it. Learn some manners.

Informing the victims could have been done through the DAs office, or a victim advocate, or a second party. There are numerous methods that could be used.

Courts Martials and juries are very similar. They are not apples and oranges. There are a group of officers and/or enlisted who weigh the evidence and must come to a decision based upon the evidence. They are advised by a judge and hear testimony as in a jury. There is a prosecutor and a defense lawyer. Members of the court are screened for bias. I could continue to list the similarities but I don't belay the obvious like you.

[BiggJawn]

23. Oh, all right, then.

"You are patronizing and rude"

I won't deny that. I won't apologise for it, either.

"you explain the obvious as if I don't know it."

Sorry, but there is a SURPLUS of people around here who
wouldn't know the obvious if you rammed it up their noses. Sorry that I mis-took someone of your calibre for such. But in my defense, it was very dificult to determine that from such a short statement.

"Learn some manners."

Back in a bygone era, that statement was usually followed with a pair of kid gloves across the face. Do I get to choose the weapons and place? Or are you expecting me to shuffle away backwards, cap in hand, head bowed?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. You don't know if someone was convicted in Laz's case or not

He did not reveal as much

[LynneSin]

19. The juror wasn't meeting with the family after the veredict was complete..

..the juror was meeting at a Casino for what was described as a family celebration. Hell, the juror even said she got all emotional when she heard 'Beat It' being played

[lazarus]

24. Here's the case

First, the main victim was dead. It was, after all, a murder trial.

Second, it was a double trial. Two juries, even. A driveby shooting. My jury had the driver, the other jury had the shooter.

The shooter was convicted on all counts, including a bizarre finding of second degree murder. (I find it bizarre because California law clearly states that a homicide committed with either an assault rifle, like this one, or from a moving vehicle, like this one, is first degree. No idea how the jury arrived at second.)

I got to sit 5 feet from the other shooting victims, three of them, during their testimony. None of them were interested in spending time with me.

And we arrived at the right decision. Twelve of us agreed that the prosecution had simply not made his case. If the DA can't prove the case, why is the jury at fault? Are we supposed to ignore the law and just convict people because someone has to pay? One of our jurors tried that, and we were this close to trying to get her kicked off the jury for failure to deliberate properly.

I spent plenty of time talking to the DA about how he royally fucked up the case, too. It should never have been brought against "my" defendant. And the poor kid got a dishonorable discharge and spent 16 months in jail awaiting trial. Someone want to explain to this innocent man how we pay him back for that?

[Zuni]

2. hmmm

interesting

[truthisfreedom]

3. Michael didn't need jury tampering to win this one. the accusers were

seriously f***ed up people, and it was so evident once they were on the stand that i could tell he'd win from that point on.

perhaps it looks suspicious to have a juror attend a party for the defendent, but the trial's over, and sane people deserve thanks for helping bring it to a reasonable close.

[sniffa]

5. his acquittaL ranks up there with

the faLL of the berLin waLL, reLease of neLson mandeLa, and the birth of MLK... it's onLy right to ceLebrate.

[ghostsofgiants]

22. What about the toppling of the Saddam statue?

I guess nothing really touches that thugh.

[xultar]

6. Oh puhleez, there was no case. They were out for $$$$. This is not LBN

[sniffa]

9. how about

sending your kids for a sLeepover then?

[xultar]

14. Three we're prior accusations before this mom sent her kids.

If I hear funny stuff about someone I'm not sending my kids.

She sent her kids with full knowledge there had been accusations.

[BlueEyedSon]

10. MJ is a sick, sick person. Just because the victim's mother is sicker

does not exonerate him.

[xultar]

15. I honestly don't feel there was molestation in this case.

[donheld]

21. I totally agree

:grr:

[Warren Stupidity]

7. This does not belong in LBN

It is not news it is distraction.

[Zuni]

13. this is the lounge

[sasquatch]

17. Nancy Grace is having puppy's right now as we speak!?!?!?

The words:
BOOK DEAL, BOOK DEAL, BOOK DEAL!!
Are flashing in her head in big golden lights.