Judge rejects defence moves in Jackson case

THE judge in the Michael Jackson child abuse case has rejected a defence bid to throw out the charge in a ruling that for the first time publicly detailed the conspiracy charge against the pop star.

Judge Rodney Melville also turned down defence requests to exclude evidence seized from a private investigator’s office and Jackson’s Neverland Ranch estate north west of Santa Barbara.

Melville rejected defence arguments the indictment should be thrown out because of aggressive conduct by District Attorney Tom Sneddon during grand jury proceedings, insufficient evidence and flawed legal instructions given to jurors.