# Michael Jackson Verdict Reached!!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [June 13, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130 "2005-06-13T19:29:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/1 "2005-06-13T19:29:07Z")
It will be announced at 1:30 PST, 4:30 my time.
On tenterhooks over here…geez…
Guilty on all counts except _maybe_ some of the conspiracy counts and the drinking (nobody seems to have seen MJ give the kids a drink himself). I hope it’s guilty on all counts. He needs help and punishment both.
**vibrating with excitement**
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### Author:  [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/2 "2005-06-13T19:39:01Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#):
>
> It will be announced at 1:30 PST, 4:30 my time.
>
> On tenterhooks over here…geez…
>
> Guilty on all counts except _maybe_ some of the conspiracy counts and the drinking (nobody seems to have seen MJ give the kids a drink himself). I hope it’s guilty on all counts. He needs help and punishment both.
>
> **vibrating with excitement**
**vibrating with indifference**
Honestly, who the fuck even cares? And why, for God’s sake?
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/3 "2005-06-13T19:48:47Z")
C’mon **Dave**. I have interests some folks would find pitifully boring and maybe you do too. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to see if anyone else shares them.
For those who follow Michael, today is an absolute milestone in his life. You and I might not care to participate, might not even wish him well, but I can sure understand how some will find this of interest.
The only thing that kinda pisses me off about this is that it’s all we’re going to hear about from a number of legitimate news sources for awhile. Still, everything, no matter how mundane, deserves a forum.
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### Author:  [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/4 "2005-06-13T19:50:03Z")
The only reason to care about his fate is really to see him try and squirm out of being in general population.
I’ll spend my time caring about the kids, and hoping the parents that let their kids stay overnight with that freak learn solme parenting skills.
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### Author:  [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/5 "2005-06-13T19:55:31Z")
I gotta go with **dave** on this one. To each his own, but my brain can’t seem to wrap around one good reason that anyone not directly involved (i.e., families of those he supposedly molested) should give the tiniest rat’s ass about this.
I understand that police have been instructed to be alert for possible suicide attempts by some of the masses gathered outside the courthouse should a Guilty verdict be returned. Seems to be that would be Darwin at its finest.
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### Author:  [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/6 "2005-06-13T19:57:17Z")
I predict it’ll be 3 p.m. PST before we get a ruling.
They decided quickly. Any lawyers want to speculate what that means?
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### Author:  [@dare\_devil007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dare_devil007)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/7 "2005-06-13T19:58:47Z")
I honestly have no comment. I mean, I thought I’d avidly follow the case because it got so much publicity. But all it got from me was a big “Meh!” I don’t even have an opinion on whether I think he did it or not.
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### Author:  [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/8 "2005-06-13T20:05:36Z")
Well, I finally got around to seeing the new STAR WARS last night and it got a big MEH from me, but I didn’t drop into all the threads crowding Cafe Society and say “Why would anybody want to see this dreck? It’s a silly space opera!”
So cut those of us who have been following the trial some slack right now, OK?
That said, I honestly have no idea why I’ve been so engrossed in this case. I was never a big MJ fan and haven’t seen a thing he’s done for twenty years or so.
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### Author:  [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/9 "2005-06-13T20:06:50Z")
My spidey sense says hung jury, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for conviction.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/10 "2005-06-13T20:09:01Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#):
>
> I gotta go with **dave** on this one. To each his own, but my brain can’t seem to wrap around one good reason that anyone not directly involved (i.e., families of those he supposedly molested) should give the tiniest rat’s ass about this.
Because Michael Jackson was a hugely talented entertainer at one time in his life before he descended into ever-deepening levels of wierdness. Now, the last remaining point of interest about his life and/or career is whether his wierdness was entirely self-directed or whether he managed to screw up the lives of one or more young boys on his way to hitting rock bottom.
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### Author:  [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/11 "2005-06-13T20:12:20Z")
> [@Weirddave](#):
>
> **vibrating with indifference**
>
> Honestly, who the fuck even cares? And why, for God’s sake?
Honestly, who the fuck cares that you’re indifferent to the result? And why, for God’s sake, did you bother to open the thread in the first place?
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### Author:  [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/12 "2005-06-13T20:16:00Z")
☹ \
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### Author:  [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/13 "2005-06-13T20:20:20Z")
I have paid as little attention as possible (which is damn little) to the trial. The only part I’m interested in is the verdict, and probably that only because of the weirdness of MJ these days. I remember, when I was a kid, and he was cool. It’s sad.
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### Author:  [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/14 "2005-06-13T20:20:57Z")
I don’t have a dependable radio at work, so I’m staying tuned to this thread and clicking refresh every couple of minutes. Thanks for starting it, **Mehitabel**.
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### Author:  [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/15 "2005-06-13T20:23:05Z")
Sorry, **Mehitabel**. I hate it when people feel the need to open a thread someone started about something they’re not interested in just to say they’re not interested or that it’s stupid to be interested in that thing. I should have added to my last post that I’m interested, and waiting anxiously for the results, too. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with showing interest in this case, and you shouldn’t be made to feel embarrassed for doing so.
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### Author:  [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/16 "2005-06-13T20:23:22Z")
It’s not a good sign, however, that the media is intently covering his _trip to the courthouse_. Helicopters are shooting the caravan of limos as Jackson makes his way there.
I ask you, is his trip to the courthouse a news event in itself? Isn’t there something better they could be spending their money on?
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### Author:  [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/17 "2005-06-13T20:23:33Z")
I haven’t followed the trial, and know nothing more than the bare bones of the story. But _I’m_ interested to see how it ends. Probably for the exact reasons **whiterabbit** mentioned.
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### Author:  [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/18 "2005-06-13T20:24:13Z")
I’m in the “Why the hell would you open a thread if you don’t care” party.
Anyway, this will be an interesting verdict. Does anyone predict riots? People in the fair city of LA tend to go a little crazy sometimes (“Whaaa! Our basketball team won? RIOT!” "Whaaa…our basketball team lost? RIOT!).
I’m hoping he is found not guilty. I’m not saying the man is innocent, but the case against him was weak at best. Then again, I thought they’d find Peterson not guilty, too (although we didn’t get all the details in that case).
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### Author:  [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/19 "2005-06-13T20:25:49Z")
New estimated time to read verdict of 4:45 EDT.
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### Author:  [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-verdict-reached/308130/20 "2005-06-13T20:27:05Z")
> [@Large Marge](#):
>
> It’s not a good sign, however, that the media is intently covering his _trip to the courthouse_. Helicopters are shooting the caravan of limos as Jackson makes his way there.
>
> I ask you, is his trip to the courthouse a news event in itself? Isn’t there something better they could be spending their money on?
Well, it is Los Angeles, you know. Must not be any high-speed chases to cover. 😉
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