Questionnaire screens Jackson case jurors

PROSPECTIVE jurors in the Michael Jackson child abuse case were asked in a questionnaire released yesterday if they can fairly judge people of different races, have ever been diagnosed with cancer and have they ever experienced or been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

The questionnaire, which the roughly 250 prospective jurors were asked to fill out during pre-trial screening on Monday and Tuesday, was designed to weed out jurors who might have strong feelings that would keep them from ruling fairly in the case.

Jackson is accused of molesting a 13-year-old former cancer patient.

The potential jurors were also asked if they ever worked with children and if they have friends or relatives who know Jackson, whose Neverland Ranch is located in Santa Barbara County about 30 miles from Santa Maria, the site of his trial.

Attorneys are scheduled to begin questioning the potential jurors on Monday.

Judge Rodney Melville has said the tests were based on questions submitted by lawyers.

Besides asking religious beliefs or medical problems that could keep jurors from serving, the questionnaire touched on matters likely to come into play, including how closely they followed the 1993 molestation allegations against Jackson.

Prosecutors want to include details of those allegations in the trial to try to prove a pattern of abuse. Jackson reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with that accuser and was never criminally charged.

Potential jurors were also asked if they or their families had ever made “any type of claim for money damages”. Defence lawyers are expected to portray the accuser’s family as being after Jackson’s money.