Created: Thursday, 09 June 2005
Court Photos: http://home.mj-upbeat.com/?p=3850
Michael Jackson’s jurors concluded their fifth day of deliberations after less than three hours, prolonging the agonizing wait for a verdict in Mr. Jackson’s trial.
The 12 jurors, who hold Jackson’s fate in their hands, decided to leave three and a half hours ahead of schedule as several of them wanted to attend their children’s school graduation ceremonies.
They appeared relaxed as they left the Santa Maria, California courtroom aboard two minivans.
The eight women and four men deliberated behind closed doors in a room which even trial Judge Rodney Melville is not allowed to enter.
The only news to emerge came on Monday when the hundreds of journalists camped out outside the courthouse were told the jurors had put a question to Melville, who promptly notified the lawyers.
Melville has told jurors that if they agree on a verdict for any of the counts, they should seal their ballots and continue deliberations on the other charges.
Mr. Jackson has pleaded innocent and the fans who throng the gates of the courthouse are convinced that can be the only just verdict.
They chant, “Innocent, innocent” at the top of their voices, bear tattooes of their idol’s name, dress like the famed entertainer and sing his praise.
With no word from the jury room, tension has risen rapidly, fueling heated exchanges between fans and foes, and with the media.
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