Drum: OFFBEAT
111
T he Low dow n
A confident, white-suited Michael Jackson strode into the
Santa Maria courthouse yesterday, flanked by his legal team,
as they met to put the finishing touches to their
controversial ‘evil twin’ defence.
Although the precise details of the Jackson camp’s strategy
are as yet unknown, it is expected to hinge upon proving the
existence of a previously unknown Jackson brother – the
spitting image of Michael – who posed as the ‘Billie Jean’
superstar and committed the offences of which he is
accused.
DRUM BRINGS YOU ALL THE LATEST
NEWS FROM INSIDE THE TRIAL OF
THE CENTURY
Lead Defence Lawyer
Thomas Mesereau faced
the press yesterday, and
stoutly defended his client’s
innocence:”Michael Jackson
is a good man, an
honourable man. And soon
he will be vindicated. We will
prove that, while Michael was
overseas doing unpublicised charity work, his evil twin
brother stole his identity, and took advantage of my client’s
good name to commit these unspeakable acts.”
Mesereau added: “It was also the evil twin who recorded
and released the I nv incib le album.”
Q uestioned as to the evil twin’s name, Mr Mesereau seemed
momentarily thrown: “His name? You want to know his
name do you? Well, that’s understandable. And, since we
know his name, that is an easy question to respond to. So I
will tell you. This very minute. Because his name…his name
is…B...Blichael. It’s Blichael. Blichael Jackson. No further
questions.”
LL
RD IN
HOWA E RSIAL CA EST
T
OV
CONT I Z E NSH I P
IT
FOR C
In the wake of his controversial calls
for a curb on the number of
immigrants allowed to settle in Britain
each year, Conservative leader Michael
Howard has courted further
opprobrium by proposing a ‘Citizenship
Test’ for all immigrants applying to
become naturalised Britons.
Despite strong condemnation from
civil rights campaigners and groups
representing asylum seekers, Howard
was steadfast, arguing that the
continued health of the nation was
dependent on the maintenance of
certain “core values, which define the
British people”.
“If this country is to remain a leading
force in Europe, and in the world, it is
our duty to ensure that the elements
and national characteristics which
have made us great in the past are not
eroded as we strive toward a truly
multi-ethnic society,” said the sinister
Opposition leader yesterday. “If we are
to move forward, we must be sure
that those who would make their
homes here are true to such great
British virtues as guilt, self-hatred,
sexual and emotional repression, and
stifled, poisonous rage at the rest of
the world.” »