At this point in the game, I have been reading and researching about Michael Jackson for almost one year. There are so many players in the life of Michael Jackson that it is sometimes hard to keep them straight and to remember facts. However, one figure is impossible to forget. JOHN BRANCA. The names of Michael's children are misspelled, making the will's validity questionable. The letter that Michael Jackson wrote to John Branca in 2003, ordering the attorney to "cease expending any effort of any kind on my behalf" and the termination of Branca and his law firm's services. For the 4 people left of the planet who have not read the original document themselves, here is a link where you can read it: http://mjhoaxlive.blogspot.com/2009/11/ ... ranca.html
I must admit that I've wavered about John Branca. So I decided to research Branca's alleged "crimes" and the hysteria that has caused fans to not only detest him, but to publicly denounce the validity of the will and Branca's executorship of the Michael Jackson Estate. I decided to start researching from the point where Tom Mesereau came into the picture. Tom Mesereau seems to be universally loved by Michael Jackson fans. And so, I start with Mesereau and the '05 trial.
Branca is accused of being fired in 2003 by Michael Jackson. Michael, at the time, believed there was a conspiracy to force him into involuntary bankruptcy, in order to gain control of the ATV catalog. The letter above attests to this; that in fact, Michael did fire Branca in 2003. Per the letter, Michael then hired attorney David LeGrand to investigate the many people who surrounded Jackson at the time. At this point in time, Michael was surrounded by people who did not have Jackson's best interests at heart. Among them were Ronald Konitzer and Deiter Weisner.
The results of David Legrand's investigation became a turning point for Michael Jackson's 2005 trial. When questioned by Tom Messereau, LeGrand stated that Jackson had in fact, hired him to investigate the people surrounding MJ in 2003. Under oath and penalty of perjury, LeGrand stated that there was no evidence that Branca had anything to do with any offshore accounts, period. He also stated that Ronald Konitzer and Deiter Wiesner had informed LeGrand that they wanted to manage Michael Jackson's business affairs, which made LeGrand suspicious. According to court transcripts of the 05 trial:
Mesereau: "Didn't you investigate Mr. Branca because you were concerned that he
and SONY had set up an offshore account to funnel money so they could defraud Michael Jackson?
LeGrand: "...I instructed the firm Interfor to investigate Mr. Branca because Mr.
Konitzer had indicated in several conversations that he was very concerned about Mr. Jackson and that Mr. Jackson had expressed concern about Mr. Branca's loyalty."
Mesereau: "As far as the John Branca...investigation by Interfor, Interfor never
found any evidence that Mr. Branca...(was) engaged in any fraud with Mr. Jackson right?"
LeGrand: "I was given no credible evidence to support those charges. I would be
doing Mr. Branca a great wrong if I said otherwise."
There is much more to this testimony that the few lines that I wrote here, but it clearly maintains that Branca did not embezzle funds. Both Tom Mesereau and Michael Jackson were in that courtroom and both were fully aware that Branca was innocent of those charges. A link to the copy of the court transcripts is here:
http://www.geniusmichaeljackson.com/cou ... 202005.txt
LeGrand maintained that those who were whispering in Jackson's ear, Konitzer and Wiesner, had also taken nearly $1 million from Michael Jackson without his knowledge. In addition, LeGrand helped to bolster the defense's claim when he stated that Janet Arviso "seemed satisfied being there (at Neverland). She expressed support for Mr. Jackson." Link:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/ ... 4915.shtml
First point, LeGrand found that Branca had NOT been involved in any offshore account embezzlement, and Michael Jackson rehired John Branca. Second point...when John Branca was either fired or left Michael Jackson's employ...he sold his ATV equity interest BACK TO MICHAEL JACKSON. Branca owned 5% of the ATV....and I REPEAT...HE SOLD IT BACK TO MICHAEL JACKSON!
Does anyone understand that if John Branca's first loyalty was to SONY, that he would have sold his interest in the ATV to SONY? This 5% that Branca owned, would have given SONY a majority stake in the ATV, and left Michael Jackson with considerably less control.
Yes, Branca sits on the board at SONY. But so does Ahmed Al Khan...does anyone know who HE is? Khan is the King of Bahrain's personal counsel, who also renegotiated Michael Jackson's finances with Sony while Jackson's was staying there. And conveniently, Ahmed Al Khan now ALSO sits on the board at SONY. And yes, Branca's LAW FIRM did represent SONY, but not Branca personally. Are there connections? Yes. Enough damning evidence to try and convict Branca? I don't think so.
Third and last point...has anyone considered that Michael Jackson might have hired Branca 8 days before he died to PROTECT him? I've read on so many blogs that Michael KNEW...he knew and lived in fear that someone would murder him. Has anyone considered that he hired Branca and possibly DiLeo because he knew that in his fear and desperation, Jackson may have reached out to those who he felt would protect him and his best interests?
http://mjandjustice4some.blogspot.com/2 ... ranca.html
