NEW YORK — As 2005 comes to a close, FOX News Channel is counting down the top 10 stories of the year.

 

Watch Rewind 2005: What a Year! on FOX News Channel Sunday at 10 p.m. and Monday morning at 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

 

Among the stories that captivated the nation — and the world — were the capture of a notorious serial killer who eluded authorities for over 25 years; the mystifying antics and sex-abuse trial of the world-renowned King of Pop; a controversial Supreme Court ruling that said people's homes could be torn down so private builders could construct shopping malls; and the worst natural disaster to hit the United States in nearly eight decades — Hurricane Katrina.

 

Here are the stories of the year, counting down to the top story of 2005.

 

(all deleted but michael part)

 

6. Michael Jackson verdict

 

The world saw more evidence in 2005 that Jackson is wacko.

 

Michael Jackson was acquitted on June 14 of all 10 counts in the child molestation case that involved a 13-year-old male cancer survivor and which the alleged victim's family claimed took place at the pop star's Neverland ranch in Santa Barbara County, Calif., in 2003.

 

The verdict — reached after about 30 hours of deliberations over seven days — ended a star-studded, four-month trial that offered a look into Jackson's weird world and presented jurors with vastly different portraits of him: a creepy pervert who preyed on little boys, or the victim of a frame-up by a family of shakedown artists.

 

The charges Jackson faced included four counts that he molested the boy and conspired to hold his family captive. Jackson also was charged with providing the boy with wine — what the pop star called "Jesus juice" — and conspiring with members of his inner circle to hold the accuser and his family captive to get them to rebut a damaging documentary. Actor Macaulay Culkin and comedians Jay Leno and Chris Tucker testified for the defense.

 

Near the end of the trial, the pop artist known for his electric, moonwalking performances just sat motionless in his courtroom chair, looking like a ghost of his former self. One day he showed up from the hospital in his pajamas just minutes before the judge issued a warrant for his arrest after he didn't show up for court.

 

Fans were always present to greet Jackson as he arrived at the courthouse, often flanked by parents Katherine and Joe Jackson, sisters LaToya and Rebbie, and brothers Randy and Jackie. But what began as a huge throng of fans who skipped their usual daily routine to show their support for the King of Pop eventually became just a handful of supporters near the end of the legal ordeal.

 

Jackson never took the stand but the jury heard him on a videotape making such remarks as "I'm not a nut" and "I haven't been betrayed or deceived by children. Adults have let me down."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,179541,00.html

Edited December 23, 200520 yr by The Grinch

Interesting read, but they got the day wrong. He was vindicated on June 13th.

 

Of all the things to make a typographical error on, how can it happen there? Who wouldn't remember that day? Has to have been one of the most important of the media year, other than when Katrina hit, and the earthquake in Pakistan. (how come nobody ever mentions that anymore? Why are we not helping?)

Interesting read, but they got the day wrong. He was vindicated on June 13th.

 

Of all the things to make a typographical error on, how can it happen there? Who wouldn't remember that day? Has to have been one of the most important of the media year, other than when Katrina hit, and the earthquake in Pakistan. (how come nobody ever mentions that anymore? Why are we not helping?)

 

 

well i didnt remember the exact day. hehe