Michael Jackson

[molly]

How can Michael Jackson be allowed to visit the UK with child abuse allegations hanging over him?

[darth vader]

you might well wonder. The official stance is that he is innocent until proven guilty under UK law, so they can't refuse him entry unless he unlawfully left the USA. So it will all be down in the end, to USA border control as to whether they will allow him out of the country. It does seem a bit crass (and perhaps naive) to think he can enter the country and go on as if nothing happened - the UK press will murder him. Good Luck wacko

[darth vader]

sorry my opinion crept in at the end

[darth vader]

I'm sorry but once is a mistake, twice is very suspect. And how many more cases went un-reported as he paid off the parents?

[Miss Zippy]

'Once is a mistake, twice is suspect'? Mmm, Darthy, sounds like the words of a certain 'expert witness' whose 'evidence' has been found to be responsible for ruining many lives. If MJ is indeed found to be guilty of perpetrating these crimes, then the parents of alleged past victims who allowed their children to be 'bought off' by accepting sums of money in lieu of fighting for justice in a criminal court should hang their heads in shame. What parent in their right mind would accept money from an adult whom they believe has assaulted their child? Their acquiescence would have allowed MJ to continue abusing other children (if, indeed, that is what he is found to have done).

[darth vader]

I get your point but i was basing this on opinion not mathematical statistics (which doesn't actually make it any better i agree....)

[Tom McGregor]

well firstly, who is to say Michael Jackson is guilty or innocent? There is no evidence released, and the case is already looking very weak. Anyway not relative. Point - they wouldn't let him out of the USA if they had hard, material evidence on him, and they obviously haven't. They need to stop judging this person who obviously has strong feelings for kids. (not sexual) but because society is so sex crazed, we can't share love anymore. This is so wrong. Who better to fire false accusations of abuse at than Michael Jackson: becuase most people will think he did it. I ask you to learn the facts before eating the tabloid trash.

[Meadowgrover]

Tom McGregor - you suggest that we learn the facts, but earlier stated quite boldly 'this person who obviously has strong feelings for kids. (not sexual) ' as if this is an undisputable fact. How can you possibly know this for certain (although I would state that the opposing view is also unsustainable unless backed up with facts). Having said that it is a dangerous precedent to set to ban someone on the basis of unproven claims so I say let him in and he can take his chances as Darth says with the media.

[FredPuli]

The government can refuse entry to any individual regardless of their having no criminal convictions or whether or not they have the correct papers and passport. The power is to exclude anybody whose presence the government thinks undesirable. Michael Jackson would not be the first. The actor George Raft was once refused entry apparently because he was thought to have connections with organised crime. Similarly there was an American black activist refused recently as he was thought to be likely to stir up racial hatred by his speeches. So to say that this individual could only be refused if he had left the US illegally is wrong. Mr Straw simply sees no reason to stop him on any other ground; certainly his being charged would not make his presence here contrary to public order or the safety of the country ( the two fundamental considerations in such cases)

[FredPuli]

Oops: for 'Straw' read 'Blunkett' methinks

[luckyboy]

Well, its a strange concept to some.... but a man is innocent till proven guilty! to me and many others jacko is a strange fish, a 10 year old inside a 45 year old body, but that does not mean that he is a child abuser, as soon as he did that bashir documentary, you can bet your bottom dollar that every 2 bit lawyer saw the opportunity to make a buck and approached many of those parents with promises of a multi million pay off, and it's therefore not surprising that one of those parents has made these sort of allegations . that is my opinion anyway and until it is proven otherwise it will still be my opinion.