Jackson ‘optimistic’ as jury out second day

MICHAEL JACKSON was optimistic yesterday as he awaited a decision by the jury in his child molestation and conspiracy case, the Rev Jesse Jackson said.

“Michael is very well embraced through all of this by his supporters throughout the world,” the pop star’s friend told reporters outside the courthouse.

Inside, the jury of eight women and four men was in its second full day of deliberations on the 10-count indictment against Michael Jackson.

The panel deliberated for about two hours on Friday and then for a full day on Monday. The panel was meeting from 8:30am to 2:30pm with three 10-minute breaks.

The 46-year-old singer is charged with molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor in 2003, giving the boy alcohol and conspiring to hold his family captive to get them to rebut a documentary in which Jackson said he let children into his bed but it was nonsexual.

The scene outside the courthouse was much calmer than on Monday, when the pop star’s father showed up and media and fans surged around him.

Rev Jackson, who has been a Michael Jackson confidant throughout the trial, was asked why he came to the courthouse during deliberations.

“If Michael’s friends did not stand up for him in a public way, you would ask, ‘Where are they?’” he said.

He also said that rumours have continued to swirl about Jackson’s health and he wanted to reassure everyone that “he is resting comfortably” in spite of great back pain.

“Through all of this Michael remains amazingly optimistic - A, declaring his own innocence, B, declaring his confidence in the jury,” Rev Jackson said.

Some 40 miles away, around 100 fans based themselves outside the gates of Jackson’s Neverland ranch.

Sean O’Kane, 23, from Derry, had just missed his flight home.

“Everything else in my life just seems so minimal now,” he said. “I can’t leave Michael now, not as he’s waiting for the verdict - it’s too important.”

Mr O’Kane described the feeling of being in Santa Maria with fans from across the world as “euphoric”. “It’s like an alternative family,” he said. “I’ve gone from being a wee fan from Derry to a fan people know in Hungry and Hawaii.”

Ronan Davie, 21, from Glasgow, said he had come too far to abandon his idol before “vindication day.”

“It would feel wrong to leave now having come so far,” he said.

Cars sprayed with paint proclaiming love and support line the lane leading through the Los Olivos valley to his home.

The large wooden gates are adorned with red hearts and streamers and white paper doves have been hung from the trees. A long “chain of love” made from hundreds of heart-shaped messages sent from fans across the world has been tacked on to the fence.

The throngs play Jackson’s music on their car stereos and greet each other like old friends.