The judge in the Michael Jackson child molestation case sealed one of the most critical defence motions in the case without comment on Friday, continuing a pattern of secrecy he has imposed throughout the proceedings.
The sealing order by Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville came in response to a request from Jackson’s attorney to keep secret the motion that seeks dismissal of charges against the entertainer.
An attorney representing media organisations promised to oppose the seal.
The ruling means the public will not know on what grounds Jackson is challenging the indictment that charges him with committing a lewd act upon a child, administering alcohol, and conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.
Details from the indictment, including exactly what acts Jackson is accused of committing and the names of his alleged co-conspirators, also are being kept secret.
Jackson’s lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jnr, said in his request that sealing was needed ”based on the overriding interests of Mr Jackson’s rights to due process and a fair trial”.
Theodore Boutrous Jnr, the attorney representing The Associated Press and other media organisations, promised to oppose the decision.
”In this motion Michael Jackson is attacking the prosecution’s entire case and it’s important for the public to understand the nature of those claims and the nature of the indictment,” Boutrous said.
The latest ruling comes on the heels of a series of orders from Melville sealing about 40 search warrants executed in the case.
Melville said he was concerned that anything he revealed would be analysed and reported by the media and would make it difficult to find an unbiased jury pool. — Sapa-AP