Michael Jackson has been ordered to stand trial in September on child molestation charges by a California judge who said he would consider reducing the pop star's $3 million (1.64 million pound) bail in the meantime.
In setting a September 13 trial date for Jackson, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville said on Friday he was hoping to jump-start the sensational case -- though he conceded that with up to 100 potential witnesses there may still be delays.
"Without that bull's-eye to shoot at we're going to have a continual dilemma with discovery," Melville said. "I think it's critical that I set a trial date and that we try to get to that point."
But legal experts said that it was unlikely that jury selection could begin before October and speculated that Melville was sending a message to prosecutors and Jackson's lawyers that he wanted to speed the case up.
"There is too much discovery and too many witnesses, and you have a new lawyer on the case," Stan Goldman, a professor at Loyola Marymount Law School, said in reference to attorney Thomas Mesereau, who was hired by Jackson as his lead counsel only last month.
Mesereau, meanwhile, made an impassioned argument for Melville to lower Jackson's $3 million bail, which the attorney called "grossly excessive" compared to other defendants charged with similar crimes.
Jackson skipped the hearing with Melville's blessing.
The moonwalking entertainer was indicted in April on charges of committing lewd acts on a boy under the age of 14, as well as child abduction, extortion and false imprisonment. He has pleaded innocent.
Mesereau said Jackson had no criminal record and was not considered a flight risk or danger to the community, all factors calling for a lower bail -- and suggested $70,000, the amount set under Santa Barbara County bail guidelines for defendants facing similar charges.
Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen scoffed at that idea, calling Jackson a "self-proclaimed billionaire" and saying of $70,000: "That's roughly comparable to what he would spend in a weekend in Las Vegas."
Melville said he would take Mesereau's request under submission.
The judge also rejected a request by news organisations to unseal the indictment against Jackson, but said he would consider releasing a redacted copy of the grand jury transcripts.
Both documents are typically made public in California criminal cases and reporters have chafed under the extraordinary secrecy imposed by Melville and Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, who has been portrayed in the press as Jackson's longtime nemesis.
In setting a September 13 trial date for Jackson, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville said on Friday he was hoping to jump-start the sensational case -- though he conceded that with up to 100 potential witnesses there may still be delays.
"Without that bull's-eye to shoot at we're going to have a continual dilemma with discovery," Melville said. "I think it's critical that I set a trial date and that we try to get to that point."
But legal experts said that it was unlikely that jury selection could begin before October and speculated that Melville was sending a message to prosecutors and Jackson's lawyers that he wanted to speed the case up.
"There is too much discovery and too many witnesses, and you have a new lawyer on the case," Stan Goldman, a professor at Loyola Marymount Law School, said in reference to attorney Thomas Mesereau, who was hired by Jackson as his lead counsel only last month.
Mesereau, meanwhile, made an impassioned argument for Melville to lower Jackson's $3 million bail, which the attorney called "grossly excessive" compared to other defendants charged with similar crimes.
Jackson skipped the hearing with Melville's blessing.
The moonwalking entertainer was indicted in April on charges of committing lewd acts on a boy under the age of 14, as well as child abduction, extortion and false imprisonment. He has pleaded innocent.
Mesereau said Jackson had no criminal record and was not considered a flight risk or danger to the community, all factors calling for a lower bail -- and suggested $70,000, the amount set under Santa Barbara County bail guidelines for defendants facing similar charges.
Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen scoffed at that idea, calling Jackson a "self-proclaimed billionaire" and saying of $70,000: "That's roughly comparable to what he would spend in a weekend in Las Vegas."
Melville said he would take Mesereau's request under submission.
The judge also rejected a request by news organisations to unseal the indictment against Jackson, but said he would consider releasing a redacted copy of the grand jury transcripts.
Both documents are typically made public in California criminal cases and reporters have chafed under the extraordinary secrecy imposed by Melville and Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, who has been portrayed in the press as Jackson's longtime nemesis.
