Jackson lawyers launch bid to throw out child sex charges

Michael Jackson’s lawyers have started a bid to dismiss the child sex charges against the pop star on the grounds of “vindictive prosecution and outrageous government conduct”.

They also want to push back the January 31 trial date that Judge Rodney Melville has pressed lawyers to meet for starting jury selection.

The motions were filed on December 10 and made available last night. Judge Melville has decreed that everything in the case must first be filed under seal. Then he decides what should be revealed to the public.

The motions are due to be argued in hearings to begin in California on December 20.

The defence also asked Judge Melville to suppress all evidence seized under the latest search warrants in the case.

That motion and the others probably stem from an unexpected search of Jackson’s Neverland ranch on December 3 and 4 during which authorities also took a DNA sample from the 46-year-old entertainer.

Legal experts had predicted that the searches, on the eve of a deadline for turning over all discovery materials, would set the stage for defence lawyers to seek a delay in starting the trial.

The proposed new trial date was not released.

“How do you go to trial in a case when they are still serving search warrants?” said Loyola University Law Professor Laurie Levenson.

Lawyers in the case, who are abiding by the judge’s strict gag order, refused to comment on the new filings.

Jackson denies charges of child molestation, conspiracy and administering an intoxicating agent, alcohol, to his alleged victim.

Jackson’s estate was searched in November 2003, shortly before he was charged. In the latest visit, sheriff’s deputies stayed for more than eight hours one day and returned a second day to take the DNA sample, which Jackson provided voluntarily.