Michael Coard on the Michael Jackson Case

Pop star Michael Jackson, charged with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under 14, and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, is scheduled to be arraigned today in Santa Maria, Calif. The charges stem from allegations by a 12-year-old cancer patient who was featured in the 2003 Martin Bashir documentary “Living with Michael Jackson.”

During a recent question-and-answer session, Michael Coard, one of the most respected criminal defense lawyers in the Philadelphia area, addressed some of the issues surrounding the high-profile case.

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KCR: I know that you don’t have all the facts, but given the information that you do have, do you think that Jackson will be able to beat these charges?

MC: No doubt about it. It’s not even going to be close, because everything that I’m telling you now obviously has gone out by way of the media, but (Jackson’s attorney) Mark Geragos knows that and much more. All of that’s going to come out. The DA has kind of tipped his hand because of this personal vendetta. It’s no doubt about it. I’m extremely confident about Kobe’s (Bryant) case. I’d say that Kobe has a 75 to 80 percent chance of being found not guilty. I’d say that Michael Jackson’s got a 95 to 100 percent chance of winning.”

Interview in "The Philadelphia Tribune"