*shuffles papers*
krazy_kritter's news round-up (with my comments in italics):
Top Story
Jackson is cleared of child abuse
A jury has acquitted Michael Jackson of molesting 13-year-old cancer survivor Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland ranch - exonerating the pop star who insisted he was the victim of mother-and-son con artists and a prosecutor with a vendetta.
Jurors also acquitted Jackson of getting the boy drunk and of conspiring to imprison his accuser and the boy's family at the storybook estate - a total legal victory but one that may do little to improve his bizarre image.
Jackson looked straight ahead as the verdicts were read and showed no reaction as he was found not guilty of all counts. As he left court, Jackson held his hand to his heart and blew kisses to the screaming crowd. He was later escorted by his aides into a black SUV vehicle, and made no immediate public statement.
Screams of joy rang out among a throng of fans outside the courthouse. Fans jumped up and down, hugged each other and threw confetti in celebration of the news. A woman in the throng released one white dove as each acquittal was announced.
After the verdicts were announced, the judge read a statement from the jury: "We the jury feel the weight of the world's eyes upon us." They asked to be allowed to return to "our private lives as anonymously as we came."
The verdict - reached after about 30 hours of deliberations over seven days - ended a star-studded, four-month trial that offered a global audience a lurid look into the weird world of Michael Jackson and presented jurors with vastly different portraits of him: a creepy pervert who preyed on little boys, or the victim of a frame-up by mother-and-son shakedown artists.
During the trial, prosecutors who had been pursuing Jackson for years branded him a deviant who used his playland as the ultimate pervert's lair, plying boys with booze and porn before molesting them.
Defence lawyers described Jackson as a humanitarian who wanted to protect children and give them the life he never had while growing up as a child star. The boy had asked to meet the star when he thought he was dying of cancer.
The defence said the family exploited the boy's illness to shake down celebrities, then concocted the charges after realising Jackson was cutting them off from a jet-set lifestyle that included limo rides and stays at luxurious resorts.
Jackson was cleared of all 10 charges, including four counts that he molested the boy in early 2003. Jackson also was charged with providing the boy with wine - "Jesus juice," the pop star called it - and conspiring with members of his inner circle to hold the accuser and his family captive to get them to rebut a damaging documentary.
So it boiled down to one person's word against the other. No one apart from Michael Jackson and his accuser will ever know the truth, but the sad thing is that it's not really a victory for MJ; even after being acquitted by a jury of his peers and pronounced innocent in a court of law, there will always be those who give him stick for being a child molester.
Entertainment news
Tom's new love turns to Scientology
Actress Katie Holmes is converting to Scientology for new love Tom Cruise, she said.
The Batman Begins star was raised a Catholic but after just six weeks of dating Cruise she is taking up his religion.
At a press conference for the film, the 26-year-old was asked if she was getting into Scientology. "Yes, I am, and I'm really excited about it," she said.
The former Dawson's Creek actress has been taking lessons to learn more about the religion.
Scientology is based on the teachings of sci-fi writer L Ron Hubbard and many critics have dismissed it as a cult. Top Gun star Cruise is a devoted follower - he even erected a Scientology tent on the set of his latest film.
At the press conference in London, Holmes also spoke out about the doubters who claim her relationship with Cruise, 42, is a publicity stunt.
"It doesn't hurt me at all. There are a lot of people really, really happy for us. It's really exciting. We are so happy. I don't really care about the critics," said the former Dawson's Creek star.
Holmes was said to have turned down a role in Factory Girl, a biopic about Andy Warhol's drug-addicted muse Edie Sedgwick, because Cruise thought it had an anti-Scientology message. But she insisted: "I declined the role in Factory Girl based on my own decisions about the movie."
Cruise, who kept his private life strictly under wraps where ex-wife Nicole Kidman and former girlfriend Penelope Cruz were concerned, has astonished Hollywood observers with his over-the-top declarations of love for Holmes.
The couple have even refused to deny that marriage is on the cards. Asked about a wedding, Holmes smiled: "There's nothing official to report."
Okay, this is just weird. I don't think their relationship is a publicity stunt, especially after reading this. Come on, Katie! You shouldn't feel like you have to convert to your partner's (slightly odd) religion after going out with him for only SIX WEEKS! In fact, you shouldn't have to convert even after going out with him for six years. Get a grip, girl.
Sport
Dutch striker Van Persie held for rape
Rotterdam, Netherlands - Arsenal's Dutch striker Robin van Persie was arrested Monday night on rape charges.
Prosecution spokesperson Jei Chen de Graaf said Van Persie was arrested on Tuesday in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred over the weekend.
"He was arrested last night and is considered a suspect following an allegation of rape," De Graaf told AFP.
"The investigation is in full motion right now."
Van Persie, 21, joined Arsenal from Feyenoord last summer.
Well, he always had a bit of an attitude problem but I never would have expected such a serious allegation. I don't really know what else to say. If he's guilty, he deserves his sentence, but if not, carry on dazzling us with the fantastic football.
*shuffles papers*
Thank you and good morning.
~ Aneeka.
Top Story
Jackson is cleared of child abuse
A jury has acquitted Michael Jackson of molesting 13-year-old cancer survivor Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland ranch - exonerating the pop star who insisted he was the victim of mother-and-son con artists and a prosecutor with a vendetta.
Jurors also acquitted Jackson of getting the boy drunk and of conspiring to imprison his accuser and the boy's family at the storybook estate - a total legal victory but one that may do little to improve his bizarre image.
Jackson looked straight ahead as the verdicts were read and showed no reaction as he was found not guilty of all counts. As he left court, Jackson held his hand to his heart and blew kisses to the screaming crowd. He was later escorted by his aides into a black SUV vehicle, and made no immediate public statement.
Screams of joy rang out among a throng of fans outside the courthouse. Fans jumped up and down, hugged each other and threw confetti in celebration of the news. A woman in the throng released one white dove as each acquittal was announced.
After the verdicts were announced, the judge read a statement from the jury: "We the jury feel the weight of the world's eyes upon us." They asked to be allowed to return to "our private lives as anonymously as we came."
The verdict - reached after about 30 hours of deliberations over seven days - ended a star-studded, four-month trial that offered a global audience a lurid look into the weird world of Michael Jackson and presented jurors with vastly different portraits of him: a creepy pervert who preyed on little boys, or the victim of a frame-up by mother-and-son shakedown artists.
During the trial, prosecutors who had been pursuing Jackson for years branded him a deviant who used his playland as the ultimate pervert's lair, plying boys with booze and porn before molesting them.
Defence lawyers described Jackson as a humanitarian who wanted to protect children and give them the life he never had while growing up as a child star. The boy had asked to meet the star when he thought he was dying of cancer.
The defence said the family exploited the boy's illness to shake down celebrities, then concocted the charges after realising Jackson was cutting them off from a jet-set lifestyle that included limo rides and stays at luxurious resorts.
Jackson was cleared of all 10 charges, including four counts that he molested the boy in early 2003. Jackson also was charged with providing the boy with wine - "Jesus juice," the pop star called it - and conspiring with members of his inner circle to hold the accuser and his family captive to get them to rebut a damaging documentary.
So it boiled down to one person's word against the other. No one apart from Michael Jackson and his accuser will ever know the truth, but the sad thing is that it's not really a victory for MJ; even after being acquitted by a jury of his peers and pronounced innocent in a court of law, there will always be those who give him stick for being a child molester.
Entertainment news
Tom's new love turns to Scientology
Actress Katie Holmes is converting to Scientology for new love Tom Cruise, she said.
The Batman Begins star was raised a Catholic but after just six weeks of dating Cruise she is taking up his religion.
At a press conference for the film, the 26-year-old was asked if she was getting into Scientology. "Yes, I am, and I'm really excited about it," she said.
The former Dawson's Creek actress has been taking lessons to learn more about the religion.
Scientology is based on the teachings of sci-fi writer L Ron Hubbard and many critics have dismissed it as a cult. Top Gun star Cruise is a devoted follower - he even erected a Scientology tent on the set of his latest film.
At the press conference in London, Holmes also spoke out about the doubters who claim her relationship with Cruise, 42, is a publicity stunt.
"It doesn't hurt me at all. There are a lot of people really, really happy for us. It's really exciting. We are so happy. I don't really care about the critics," said the former Dawson's Creek star.
Holmes was said to have turned down a role in Factory Girl, a biopic about Andy Warhol's drug-addicted muse Edie Sedgwick, because Cruise thought it had an anti-Scientology message. But she insisted: "I declined the role in Factory Girl based on my own decisions about the movie."
Cruise, who kept his private life strictly under wraps where ex-wife Nicole Kidman and former girlfriend Penelope Cruz were concerned, has astonished Hollywood observers with his over-the-top declarations of love for Holmes.
The couple have even refused to deny that marriage is on the cards. Asked about a wedding, Holmes smiled: "There's nothing official to report."
Okay, this is just weird. I don't think their relationship is a publicity stunt, especially after reading this. Come on, Katie! You shouldn't feel like you have to convert to your partner's (slightly odd) religion after going out with him for only SIX WEEKS! In fact, you shouldn't have to convert even after going out with him for six years. Get a grip, girl.
Sport
Dutch striker Van Persie held for rape
Rotterdam, Netherlands - Arsenal's Dutch striker Robin van Persie was arrested Monday night on rape charges.
Prosecution spokesperson Jei Chen de Graaf said Van Persie was arrested on Tuesday in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred over the weekend.
"He was arrested last night and is considered a suspect following an allegation of rape," De Graaf told AFP.
"The investigation is in full motion right now."
Van Persie, 21, joined Arsenal from Feyenoord last summer.
Well, he always had a bit of an attitude problem but I never would have expected such a serious allegation. I don't really know what else to say. If he's guilty, he deserves his sentence, but if not, carry on dazzling us with the fantastic football.
*shuffles papers*
Thank you and good morning.
~ Aneeka.