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Jury hears Jacko's telephone messages
Jurors in a civil lawsuit against Michael Jackson, heard frantic phone messages that the singer left for a business associate.
Jurors in a civil lawsuit against Michael Jackson heard increasingly frantic phone messages that the singer left for a business associate, demanding action on projects including a collaboration with actor Marlon Brando and the release of a charity recording.
Tapes of the messages left on F Marc Schaffel's answering machine were played yesterday to show his close relationship with Jackson and that he was entrusted with handling millions of dollars for the singer.
Schaffel claims the pop star owes him $3.8 million in royalties, expenses and other debts.
In one of the first phone messages, from 2001, Jackson said, "Marc, it's Michael. ...Marc, please never let me down. I like you. I love you. ...I really want us to be friends and conquer the business world together. Please be my loyal, loyal friend. I love you."
Schaffel testified that he had been working on a number of projects for Jackson and had even arranged a USD 10 million line of credit for him from a financial institution. Schaffel said Jackson had many demands, including searching out a home in Beverly Hills that could be a hideaway from his Neverland ranch.
In June 2001 Jackson left several messages dealing with what he called "the Marlon Brando deal." The tapes shed more light on the pop star's friendship with Brando.
Schaffel said Jackson had an idea to do a video in which Brando would interview him and he would interview Brando at the actor's island in Tahiti. Later, Jackson wanted to make an acting DVD with Brando.
