Let's talk about it.

Chris Brown Crime and Punishment & Recalling Michael Jackson Defense with Famed Attorney Tom Mesereau

Crime Time

Episode 159

Chris Brown Crime and Punishment & Recalling Michael Jackson Defense with Famed Attorney Tom Mesereau

Famed defense attorney Tom Mesereau outlines the legal timeline in R&B star Chris Brown’s career and also weighs in on the Jodi Arias penalty trial, the Oscar Pistorius case and recalls his defense of Michael Jackson during the King of Pop’s child molestation trial.

“There’s been talk about Chris Brown having some sexual experiences when he was very young, that were really forms of abuse if they happened the way they’ve been described,” Mesereau said about attempting to analyze why the singer has had repeated run-ins with the law. “But to tie them to the behavior he was charged with, I think is nothing but speculation.”

He points out that there are plenty of people who engage in aggressive behavior who have not been abused physically or sexually.

Clemente concurs with this point, saying that it’s never just one thing that influences a criminal to act out, but rather “a complicated mix of bio, psycho and social” factors. “I think fame is a very powerful, complex destructive force. This young man has experienced the height of fame at a very young age – that’s a very difficult thing to cope with.”

Mesereau said the huge fame and worldwide attention can be to blame for the continued bad behavior of all kinds of celebrities.

“That has to affect your sense of reality. It takes a very unusual person to withstand that in an appropriate way at a young age – most cannot do it – very few can withstand that kind of pressure at a young age. “That may be the pure explanation for his reported behavior.”

The panel brings up Brown’s sexualization at a very young age by various adults in his life and discusses how this can also lead to many problems later in life. “It certainly does not excuse him being violent to women, or being violent to anybody, but it may help in conjunction with, as you said, this fame factor that must put a tremendous about of pressure for somebody as young as him,” Clemente said.

The conversation turns to the Jodi Arias case and her decision to represent herself at the penalty phase of her trial, during which she is basically fighting for her life to avoid the death penalty after being convicted of murdering her ex-boyfriend.

“The evidence of guilt was overwhelming, and very, very disturbing. You had powerful evidence that she planned this, meticulously and carefully,” Mesereau said about her conviction.

He also speaks about the latest attempt by the defense to get all charges dropped in the case based on accusations of evidence tampering by investigators involving a computer that belonged to the victim and contained alleged child pornography. “It seemed like too much of a stretch to me,” Mesereau said about Arias’ claim that her boyfriend had an interest in child porn. “But if there’s evidence to corroborate that, that could be very important and I think she would get a new trial.”

Mesereau recalls representing Michael Jackson in his 2005 trial during which the Grammy Award winning artist was cleared of all charges of child sexual abuse. “They exonerated him across the board, so I think that speaks volumes.”

He also notes that Clemente was on the witness list for the trial and was set to testify as an educational expert to outline for the jury some typical behaviors and profiles of child abusers.

“And I would have cross-examined you on how experts like yourself have been wrong, and I would have cited the McMartin case, the Bakersfield case, and went on and on,” Mesereau said.

Watch the full episode to also hear a discussion of the Oscar Pistorius conviction and sentencing, as well as the child molestation case involving Jerry Sandusky.

Guest Bio

Best known for defending Michael Jackson in his 2004/2005 child molestation case, Thomas Mesereau has worked with such notable clientele as Robert Blake, Mike Tyson, and Joe Babijian. He is also extensively experienced in pro-bono cases and has received awards and recognition for his community service and humanitarian activism on behalf of poor and disenfranchised people.

 

Comments

Comments

Comments

Past Episodes

No Thanks