Trial of Michael Jackson: Difference between revisions

The defense sought to portray Chacon and McManus as incredible witnesses. According to ''[[The Observer]],'' each witness had a "horrific story ... Yet, rather than calling the police, each appears to have sold that story to a supermarket tabloid."<ref name=":9" /> McManus had previously denied witnessing misconduct from Jackson in a 1993 court deposition while undesunder oath. In the 2005 trial, she said she had lied during the deposition because she feared that Jackson would report her to her superiors if she told police about the incident.<ref name="BBC_guard" /> In the 1990s, Chacon and McManus had been part of a lawsuit filed against Jackson for [[wrongful dismissal]]. After Jackson counter-sued, their lawsuit was thrown out as fraudulent and malicious.<ref name="BBC_guard" /> According to testimony, Chacon and McManus had been found guilty of stealing items from Jackson's house amounting to more than $50,000 and ordered to pay more than $1 million in legal fees. On cross-examination, the pair affirmed that they had been paid for media interviews. McManus also acknowledged that she and her husband were found to have previously defrauded a relative's children and had stolen a sketch by Jackson worth $35,000. Mesereau accused the pair of attempting to "get even" with Jackson for the failed suit and characterized them as money-seekers.<ref name="wapo_copeland" />