Michael Jackson Trial Watch

‘Pop superstar Michael Jackson has shut down the house on his Neverland Ranch and dismissed some of the employees on the Californian estate.

The singer, who has lived in Bahrain since his child molestation trial ended last year, is not closing the ranch in its entirety.

Jackson’s spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain says, “It is public knowledge that Mr. Jackson currently resides in the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain.’

Read more at Jacskon Shuts Down Neverland House

‘Michael Jackson has shut down his Neverland Ranch for good. Employees were summoned to the ranch this afternoon in staggered groups, given back pay for 12 weeks through today, and were told the ranch had been shut down by the California Department of Labor.

In fact, Jackson made the decision to lay off more than 60 loyal staffers after making them wait through three months with no pay. Their health insurance ran out on February 28th. Last week, the State closed the ranch because Jackson carried no workmen’s compensation.’

Read more at Neverland Nevermore for Jacko

‘Two men pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges of secretly videotaping Michael Jackson more than two years ago as he flew to Santa Barbara with his attorney to surrender in a child-molestation investigation.

Jeffrey Borer and Arvel Jett Reeves admitted they installed two digital videorecorders to record “a professional entertainer” and his lawyer as the pair traveled on a private jet from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara in November 2003, according to their plea agreements.

The entertainer they recorded was Michael Jackson and his attorney at the time was Mark Geragos, although they are not cited by name in the plea agreements. Jackson was later found not guilty of the child molestation charges.’

Read more at Two plead guilty to recording Jackson

‘Actor MACAULAY CULKIN blames pop singer MICHAEL JACKSON’s problems on his inability to cope with reality. The star believes Jackson is so out of touch with the world around him that when something bad happens, he withdraws even further to protect himself. He explains, “He goes inward and builds walls around himself and he buys a piece of land far, far away from everybody. “You can’t assess fault anywhere - it’s a reaction to the outside world.”‘

Read more at MACAULAY CULKIN - CULKIN JACKSONS ISOLATION IS REGRETTABLE

‘Michael Jackson has received a one-day extension from the California State Dept. of Labor regarding his troubles at Neverland.

The state is now giving Jackson until the close of day Wednesday to come up with almost half a million dollars in back pay for employees plus fines levied against him. If he doesn’t make the deadline, California will sue him for the money.’

Read more at Jacko Gets 24-Hour Extension From State

‘Jermaine Jackson feared his younger brother Michael was guilty of child molestation but backed him at his trial because he thought the pop star would commit suicide in prison.

In a bombshell tell-all outline for a book, shopped to publishers just weeks after Michael’s arrest in November 2003, Jermaine described the former King of Pop as a sometimes out-of-control drug and alcohol abuser with a calculating mean streak who had “a thing for young children.”‘

Read more at I fear Michael is guilty

‘Michael Jackson is thinking about moving to the UK - after becoming enchanted with one of Britain’s most famous stately homes.

The eccentric star, who has been living in Bahrain since he was cleared on child molestation charges last year, has spent the last few weeks at Cliveden - which was made famous by the Profumo sex scandal in the 1960s.

It is understood the ‘Billie Jean’ singer asked if he could buy the grand house.’

Read more at Jacko’s UK move

‘US STATE regulators confirmed yesterday they will take legal action against singer Michael Jackson if he fails to meet a Tuesday deadline to pay more than $400,000 in penalties and back pay owed to nearly 50 workers at his Neverland Ranch.

Dean Fryer, a spokesman for the California Department of Industrial Relations, said: “If they don’t comply then we file suit to get a judgment.”‘

Read more at Jackson to face suit for unpaid cash

‘NEVERLAND, the ranch fitted out by Michael Jackson to provide him with an escape from reality, has become the latest victim of the pop star’s profligacy.

Californian state officials yesterday ordered its closure in a dispute over unpaid wages and insurance.

More than two-thirds of the 69 workers at the sprawling estate, which features a private zoo and a theme park, claim they have not been paid since December, six months after the singer was acquitted of charges of child molestation and moved to Bahrain.’

Read more at Reality check for Jackson as Neverland shuts

‘State regulators said Friday they will go after Michael Jackson in court if he fails to meet a Tuesday deadline to pay $100,000 in penalties and $306,000 in back pay owed to nearly 50 workers at his Neverland Ranch.

“If they don’t comply then we file suit to get a judgment,” said Dean Fryer, a spokesman for the California Department of Industrial Relations.

The ranch operators have until the close of business Tuesday to pay up.’

Read more at Jackson Faces Deadline To Pay Workers