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Michael Jackson's lawyers seek to bar sex evidence
Evidence of prior sexual offenses by Michael Jackson is so flimsy that it should be barred from his trial on child molestation charges, defense lawyers told a judge in court papers released on Friday. Prosecutors have sought to admit at Jackson's trial evidence that the 46-year-old pop star has a "propensity" for sexually abusing young boys, a potentially explosive issue that Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville is expected to decide as early as next week. Melville, who is conducting the Jackson case under unprecedented secrecy in what he says is a bid to protect the 46-year-old entertainer's right to a fair trial, has kept the nature of that evidence sealed. "The District Attorney is alleging at least seven prior offenses, yet only one of the alleged victims is scheduled to testify," Jackson's lawyers said in a seven-page motion. "In place of the alleged victims the prosecution seeks to introduce the testimony of a collection of disgruntled former employees, paid tabloid informants and other disreputable informants," the lawyers wrote, adding that the evidence was twice rejected by grand juries. Jackson is scheduled to stand trial beginning Jan. 31 on a 10-count indictment that charges him with lewd acts on a young boy and conspiracy, and the case marks the first time Jackson has been arrested and charged with a sexual offense. In the mid-1990s a young boy accused Jackson of molesting him, but an out-of-court settlement was reached. Jackson was not taken into custody and charges were never filed.
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