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Court TV Host: Hello Diane. Thank you for joining us today.
Diane Dimond: My pleasure.
Court TV Host: What's the latest in the Jackson hearing? Anything getting tossed out?
Diane Dimond: Not so far. The big bizarre twist here is that just moments ago the young accuser's psychologist took the stand. And it was revealed that not only is the young boy a patient of his, but according to a defense attorney, Brian Oxman, a key defense witness is ALSO his patient. Bradley Miller, a private detective, was said by Oxman to have been a patient of Doctor Katz's for "many many years." We're in a lunch break now, and Dr. Katz will be on the stand in a few minutes.
Question from kiara: Welcome Diane thanks for the chat, I just heard that the prosecution was able to look at alleged victim's treatment record.....Why did he not immediately deny that request?
Diane Dimond: Actually, that's not correct. It was the DEFENSE who asked the doctor for the young boy's files. And incredibly, the doctor handed the file to Brian Oxman. Nobody objected, but the judge finally ordered Oxman to give the file back to the doctor.
Question from kiara: Diane, how did Sneddon do yesterday?
Diane Dimond: I think his cranky side came out a few times. He was admonished by the judge not to spar with Tom Mesereau, but Tom Mesereau was admonished to "stop the sarcasm."
Question from Sole: Did Michael Jackson show any emotion in the court room?
Court TV Host: What about the family?
Diane Dimond: They were all very quiet. They seemed to be there in solidarity for their brother, but nobody spoke on his behalf. But I did notice one odd thing: many of them, including Michael, continued wearing their sunglasses in the courtroom. That's not usually allowed. But nobody made them take them off. The other thing I noticed that was very touching was that Katherine Jackson seemed to be deep in prayer during the hearing.
Question from Katie: Diane, what do you say to those who comment that you are too in line with the DA?
Diane Dimond: I tell them they don't watch my reports on television carefully. I would tell them to give me specifics of what they're talking about.
Question from Katie: What is going on with Michael Jackson's own children? Have they been taken from him?
Diane Dimond: No, they have not. We didn't see them in the tour bus yesterday, and we did see one of their primary nannies in court. But from my understanding, they're being well cared for by other nannies. At last I heard, they had been in Arizona with their father. Debbie Rowe, the mother, has initiated some sort of custody hearing for the children, but because it's all secret, we don't know what it's about.
Question from Carolyn: Will Jackson be at the court proceedings all week or was his only appearance yesterday?
Diane Dimond: He was only here as long as Tom Sneddon was on the stand, and he quickly departed. That caused some people to say that he's not really interested in the proceedings; he just knew it would make good headlines if he was here to stare down Sneddon.
Question from ally oops: Diane, why would Sneddon be allowed to get a search warrant at any private detective's office whether they worked for Geragos or not, why would the courts allow a search warrant?
Diane Dimond: It's important to remember that this search warrant (for Bradley Miller's office) was approved by a judge. Law enforcement can go into any office anywhere and take evidence they think could be of use in a criminal trial. However, if they think an attorney hired that private detective, they usually take a special master with them - a third party witness. And that wasn't done in this case.
Question from G-RaceFan: Diane, if this evidence is thrown out is there still enough evidence to proceed?
Diane Dimond: Yes. Don't forget, they have many witnesses who will testify, plus they got a truck full - literally - of evidence from the Neverland Ranch search warrant, and from search warrants served in other locations.
Question from kelly: Tom Sneddon was flipping back and fourth. How are you going to not know something then later say that you do? I did not buy his lame excuse.
Diane Dimond: Sneddon explained to the court yesterday that he had been mistaken when he told them his office knew Bradley Miller was a Geragos employee BEFORE they did the search warrant. He explained that he was very tired, was angry at his staff for missing a filing deadline, and simply transposed names on a report in his head. Now it's up to the judge to decide if he thinks that story is true.
Question from kelly: If this family was held hostage, why didn't they call police after they were so called freed?
Diane Dimond: That's a good question. Sources tell me this young boy's mother is not a highly-educated woman. She was single, the mother of 3 (including one who suffered from cancer), and as it's explained to me, her first worry was to get the family's goods back - the goods that had been in storage. A friend of hers recommended she got first to a lawyer, and that's what she did.
Question from sparkles: I heard that "911" at Jackson's ranch wouldn't go out, it that true?
Diane Dimond: That is true, according to several sources I have. Not only is there a sophisticated eavesdropping system at Neverland Ranch which has been in place for many years, but the phones are rigged (sources say) so that if you dial 911, it doesn't go to the police department, it doesn't go to the police dept. It goes to the security service on the Ranch.
Question from kiara: Diane, what items of evidence against MJ may have been seized at private investigator's office?
Diane Dimond: Sources tell me the primary piece of evidence that they don't want to lose - that the state doesn't want to lose - is a taped interview that Bradley Miller did with the family. I'm told on the tape that Miller is heard coaching the family to say only very nice things about MJ.
Question from Guess: How come the charges are more serious now than they were when he was accused the first couple times?
Diane Dimond: Absolutely, because the first time around, there were no criminal charges filed. The 1st young accuser settled out of court with Jackson.
Question from Sole: Diane, do you think Lisa Marie or Debbie may be called to testify?
Diane Dimond: I'm not sure; neither side wants to quote a "hostile" witness. I don't think Lisa Marie, etc. would want to come to court. So forcing them to come to court would backfire.
Question from soccermom: Any predictions on the outcome of this hearing?
Diane Dimond: Boy, that's the 64,000 dollar question. I don't know what is going to happen. But we just learned that we won't know the outcome until the accuser's mother comes to testify, probably in October. She was subpoenaed to come now, but she just had a c-section delivery (she had a baby boy) and her doctor says she can't travel 'til then.
Court TV Host: Diane, I know you have to head back to the courtroom. Thank you for joining us today. Keep up the great reporting!
Diane Dimond: Thank you, my pleasure. Keep watching Court TV!
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