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Entertainer's former wife takes the stand
Rowe testifies about role in rebuttal video
By DAWN HOBBS
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
After much questioning, Ms. Rowe admitted that she lied when she described Mr. Jackson as having good parenting skills.
Prosecutors put her on the stand in the high-profile child molestation trial to corroborate the testimony of the accuser's mother. She had said that Mr. Jackson's associates scripted her interview during the filming of the video designed to combat the public relations disaster created by the British documentary. In "Living with Michael Jackson," the entertainer states that he innocently shares his bed with children as he holds hands with the boy, then 13.
Prosecutors allege Mr. Jackson and his associates conspired to abduct, falsely imprison and extort the accuser and his family to get them to participate in the rebuttal video in early 2003. The family was filmed Feb. 20, 2003. The 15-year-old boy claims Mr. Jackson molested him at Neverland Valley Ranch in early March.
Prosecutors have been attempting to shore up the conspiracy charge against Mr. Jackson during the final days of their case.
Ms. Rowe, the prosecution's 71st witness, linked Mr. Jackson to his associates. She said Mr. Jackson asked for her help and urged her to cooperate with them. Prosecutors have linked five of his associates to the alleged conspiracy, but none has been charged with a crime.
Ms. Rowe's testimony about why she agreed to participate in the video strayed from what prosecutors had promised. Prosecutors indicated that Ms. Rowe, who had given up custody of her children, was told by Mr. Jackson and his associates that she would receive visiting privileges in return for her appearance.
But Ms. Rowe, her eyes welling up, said she agreed to the interview because "I promised I'd be there for him and the children."
Pop star Michael Jackson, right, departs the Santa Barbara County Courthouse accompanied by his father Joe, second from left, and bodyguards Wednesday, April 27, 2005, in Santa Maria, Calif. Jackson is on trial for child molestation.
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To Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen's continued prodding about whether anyone in the Jackson camp promised she could visit her children, Ms. Rowe said she just wanted "to be reintroduced to them and be reacquainted with their dad."
"With Mr. Jackson?" Mr. Zonen asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Why?" he continued.
"He's my friend," she said, her voice quivering as she looked at Mr. Jackson and finally broke down after fighting tears for her first 20 minutes on the stand.
On Monday, Mr. Zonen told Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville that Ms. Rowe's testimony would corroborate the allegation that Mr. Jackson and his associates used "children as pawns" to get what they needed for the rebuttal video.
Ms. Rowe's expected testimony was intended to support the accuser's mother. The mother testified that Jackson associates told her if she agreed to participate in the filming, her children would be returned to her from Neverland, where she alleges they were being held captive.
Ms. Rowe's admission to lying about Mr. Jackson's parenting skills came seconds before court ended for the day. Her testimony is expected to resume today.
During her 40 minutes on the stand, Ms. Rowe frequently looked over at Mr. Jackson from the witness box. Dressed in a velvet and satin burgundy suit, Mr. Jackson sat back in his chair. Jurors couldn't take their eyes off the couple.
Ms. Rowe told Mr. Zonen that she had been friends with Mr. Jackson for nearly 20 years before they married in 1996. They never shared a home, Ms. Rowe said. The couple filed for divorce in October 1999.
Mr. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to child molestation, administering alcohol to a minor to commit a felony, and conspiracy.
Ms. Rowe told Mr. Zonen on Wednesday that she did not hesitate when the father of her children called asking for help because she thought it might reunite the family.
Ms. Rowe testified that she had not spoken with Mr. Jackson in nearly four years and had not seen her children, Prince Michael and Paris, in more than two years when she received the urgent request.
"Michael said a video was coming out and it was full of lies, and would I help?" Ms. Rowe said. "I said, 'As always, yes.' I was very upset. . . . When I said, 'Are you OK? Are the children OK?' He said, 'Yes, we're OK.' I said, 'Can I see you and the children when everything is over with?' And he said, 'Yes.' "
Dawn Hobbs is also a news analyst for NBC and MSNBC. You may e-mail her at dhobbs@newspress.com.
CASE FILE
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS: Debbie Rowe, an ex-wife of Michael Jackson and the mother of two of his children, said she praised him during a videotaped interview in 2003 without being prepped to do so by the entertainer's associates.
WHAT'S NEXT: Ms. Rowe's testimony is expected to continue.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Can I see you and the children when everything is over with?" -- Ms. Rowe, describing what she said to Mr. Jackson when he called to ask for her help
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