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| Santa Maria Police officers wait in front of
Michael Jackson's SUV at the emergency room entrance to Marian
Medical Center were Jackson was taken to with the flu, Tuesday,
February 15, 2005 in Santa Maria, Calif. A partition was placed
between the vehicle and the hospital doors to block the
view. |
Michael Jackson was taken to an emergency room with flu-like symptoms
Tuesday, delaying jury selection in the pop star's child-molestation case for a week.
The entertainer was being treated for a "flu-like illness with some
vomiting ," Dr. Chuck Merrill
said during a brief news conference at Marian Medical Center about five
hours after Jackson's illness was announced in court by the judge.
"He's in stable condition and we expect a full recovery," said Merrill,
who would not answer questions.
Jackson's brother Randy told reporters the entertainer would spend the
night in the hospital.
Earlier, as potential jurors filed into the courtroom — including a few
who were scolded by bailiffs
for being late — Jackson's seat remained empty. Nearly 20 minutes after
the singer was scheduled to arrive, Judge Rodney S. Melville announced
that Jackson had been taken to a hospital.
He said the 46-year-old singer would need three or four days to recover
and noted that several members of the jury pool were out with the flu and
that it appeared to be going around.
The judge said Jackson had been on his way to court but was taken to a
hospital emergency room instead.
Outside the hospital, about two miles from the courthouse, a growing
crowd of about 50 fans and reporters gathered. Police officers guarded all
entrances, stopping anyone who appeared to be with the news media, while
hospital officials put up white fabric to hide what was going on in the
emergency room.
Jury selection had already been delayed for a week because of the death
of a defense attorney's sister.
The two sides are selecting 12 jurors and eight alternates who will
decide whether Jackson molested a teenage cancer patient at
his Neverland Ranch and plied the youngster with alcohol. The trial could
last about six months.
Jackson carried tissues and was wiping his nose when he arrived at
court Monday — the first day of questioning of prospective jurors.
Jackson's lawyers also announced they may try to call such stars as
Elizabeth Taylor, Jay Leno, Quincy Jones and Kobe Bryant to the stand.
Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. told the judge that Jackson was
feeling ill Monday and that the symptoms continued Tuesday morning en
route to the courthouse. Leaving court, another Jackson attorney, Brian
Oxman, said: "He's doing OK. He's been admitted to the hospital."
Before the court session ended Tuesday, the judge rejected a request
from Mesereau to question jurors for more than 10 minutes, saying that was
plenty of time.
The judge also said defense attorneys would not be allowed to privately
question jurors who requested confidentiality about some issues. The judge
said he would handle those questions himself.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2005-02-16 10:30