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February 15, 2005
Jacko Hospitalized; Jury Selection Delayed
SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Superstar Michael Jackson was rushed to the emergency room of a local hospital Tuesday and admitted for the flu, delaying jury selection another week in his child molestation trial.
Judge Rodney Melville told prospective jurors that Jackson was taken to a local hospital on his way to court. He later told them Jackson was to be admitted for a "very serious" case of the flu, and jury selection would be delayed until next Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Jackson was admitted to Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, and the hospital held a brief press conference there Tuesday afternoon.
"Mr. Jackson is being evaluated for a flu-like illness with some vomiting," said hospital emergency-room physician Dr. Chuck Merrill. "He's in stable condition."
Merrill said he'd undergone some testing, was being kept hydrated with intravenous fluids and would be released "when he is well enough to go home."
The tedious process of choosing a panel of 12 jurors and eight alternates from more than 200 prospects had already been delayed for a week and resumed Monday.
Posted by Nealus at February 15, 2005 10:28 PM
