- 1,727
danoffBy the way, Culkin was not going to claim that Jackson molested him - he has everything to lose by saying that. His career would be over in an instant.
Macauly Culkin has a career?
The fact is you've got a woman who has filed frivalous lawsuits before, she knew of the abuse and allowed him to still go to sleep with Michael, she has major credibility issues. Which translate into coaching of her son. In criminal (and civil cases) where there aren't any witnesses it comes down to credibility.
Michael says he loves kids, shares his bed with them, etc. but never molested anyone. Did the incidents which he was acquitted occur? Probably, he's a very strange man. But the $1,000,000 question is: Is there any reasonable chance it didn't, and they're just trying to get money? Jury felt so, and I based on what I know about the case, I have to agree, there is a chance that it never occured. Defense attorneys don't need to demonstrate Michael did not commit the crime, they just need to raise doubt that he did. It's up to the prosecution to show that he did in fact commit the crime.
What was the prosecution's case? Shaky/flip-flopping witness testimony about Jacko giving kids wine in Coke cans, Michael showed them child pornography on his computer, and the testimony of a 13-year old boy and his brother. The defense moved to have the charges dropped because the prosecution hadn't proved their case after they rested (motion denied), the defense brought a bunch of witnesses who had slept in Michael's bed and hadn't been molested (Major Logic flaw: he didn't molest everyone, therefore didn't molest this boy?) and attacked the credibility of the witnesses in this case. Obviously, they were able to raise doubts.
As I said before, it'd be a shame if Jacko got off because of mistakes in past by the accuser's family that amount to crying wolf too many times. On the other hand, it's terrible to destroy someone who has reached out and helped you in your time of need's reputation and career to get to his piggybank.
But is Jackson really a menace to society? Will he ever do this again(If he in fact did it this time)? Would anyone let their child share a bed with him?