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(Court TV) — Court TV's Diane Dimond has come into possession of a recording of Michael Jackson defense lawyer Brian Oxman on his cellphone. The recording was made March 15 by a Court TV sound technician who heard Oxman yelling in the parking lot of the Comfort Inn in Santa Maria, Calif. The audio engineer was in his room when he heard shouting. Once the technician realized that the person making the noise was Oxman, he began recording. Oxman, who is under gag order, declined comment. Court TV does not know to whom Oxman was speaking or the precise context of the conversation. But portions of the recording of Oxman's side of the conversation indicate that there may be dissension within Jackson's defense team, which also includes Thomas Mesereau Jr. and Robert Sanger. Although Oxman has been a longtime lawyer for the Jackson family, the courtroom work has been handled by Mesereau and Sanger. Diane Dimond reported that, while Mesereau and Sanger share a condominium, Oxman was staying at the Comfort Inn.
One snippet suggests that major changes could have been afoot shortly before opening statements. "Michael wanted to can [inaudible] a week before the opening statement. He said, 'Brian, please, I want to fire him,'" Oxman said. The subject of firing was mentioned at another point. "This is going to get intolerable. There is going to be harmony, or there is going to be s---. Make your choice. Which is it?" Oxman asked, and added, "Bottom line, he will be fired; I will make sure of it." Finally, Oxman asked his listener to deliver a message. "People treat one another with respect. I have no alliances; I want to be treated with respect. You can tell him that Brian is very upset. I didn't yell at him." | 
