Judge Won't Dismiss Jackson Indictment

Judge Rodney Melville refused a defense request to throw out the charges against Michael Jackson because he said prosecutors had presented enough evidence of child molestation and attempts to silence the accuser's family to warrant a trial by jury.

Jackson's attorneys ask the judge to throw out the indictment because of insufficient evidence, prosecutorial misconduct, and improper legal instruction. The judge rejected all of the defense claims.

In other rulings, Judge Melville ordered prosecutors to turn over to the defense names of confidential witnesses, set a Nov. 4 hearing on the defense motion to have District Attorney Tom Sneddon removed from the case, and set a Nov. 5 hearing on a defense request to lower Jackson's bail.

See AP report: Judge Rejects Bid by Michael Jackson to Throw Out Indictment

Background:
The Michael Jackson Case
False Imprisonment: The Michael Jackson Case
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