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Justice for Tyshawn Hancock. He was Sovereign.
TLDR: Tyshawn Hancock aka Paharqua Nzinga El bit a man's nose during a bar fight and placed on probation. Declared himself a sovereign citizen at Ohio Attorney General's Office and not under jurisdiction of the U.S. government. Failed to report to probation officer. After filing more sovereign paperwork was killed by "professional killer" Probation Officer John Farnsworth to send message to other sovereigns.
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• Family: Tyshawn Hancock was not a threat because he did not use a weapon, weighed only 120lbs, and a barber.
• Reality: Tyshawn bit a man's nose and placed on felony probation for aggravated assault.

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• Family: One expert said sovereign citizens are not violent.
• Reality: Multiple sovereign citizens have murdered law enforcement.

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• Family has two versions of Officer Farnsworth entrance into the house.
  • #1 Officer Farnsworth knocked on the front door and Tyshawn's grandfather answered it. Officer Farnsworth asked to see Tyshawn.
  • # 2 Officer Farnsworth barged in the front door with his gun drawn while Tyshawn's grandfather was coming down the stairs to answer the door.

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• Family: Officer Farnsworth and another officer wrestled unarmed Tyshawn into a corner and shot him in the back. Claim there were no guns in the house especially in Tyshawn's hands.
• Reality: Tyshawn dove for a gun under his bed and ballistics show he shot at Officer Farnsworth 3x and hit him in the abdomen. The officers found two more guns belonging to Tyshawn in the house.

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• Family: Officer Farnsworth was not really injured as he was sitting on the bed and "oddly" did not take time off work to recover.
• Reality: A bullet pierced Officer Farnsworth's bulletproof vest and hit his side but not critically.

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• Family: The second officer at the scene apologized for the killing to his grandfather.
• Reality: Grandfather asked “What kind of procedure was that?” The officer said, “I wasn’t the first one there.”

Did probation officers assassinate a sovereign citizen? Source

Tyshawn Hancock’s family wonders whether or not he was targeted for death by probation officers trained to kill because of his affiliation with the sovereignty movement. Here’s what happened the last day of his life.
Probation pick-up or assassination squad?
Laura Roberts heard a banging on the door. It was July 10, 2014. Her husband answered the door and found a probation officer in plain clothes wanting to see his grandson. It was not his grandson’s usual probation officer. He knocked on his grandson’s door to tell him. As her husband came down the stairs, Officer John Farnsworth entered the house with his gun drawn. The officer entered Tyshawn’s bedroom before he could come out to greet him.
Next thing Mrs. Roberts knew, a shot rang out. The bullet went into the hallway of their home over her head, hit the top of a door, and landed near her eight-year-old great-granddaughter and three-year-old great-grandson.
Later, Farnsworth would say he saw Tyshawn reach for a gun. Mrs. Roberts did not see any gun in her grandson’s hand.
Mikeea Hancock, Tyshawn’s sister and the mother of the two children in the house, told The Free Press, “My three-year-old was ten feet from the shooting.”
Mrs. Roberts said, “It was awful close, I never heard a shot so loud. I can’t even describe it.”
Another shot went into the ceiling in Tyshawn’s room. Farnsworth was on top of Tyshawn in the bed, wrestling him into a corner. A second probation officer, Kenneth Rovenko, came in the room and joined his partner in wrestling with Tyshawn. Then there was three shots – Pop! Pop! Pop!
Mrs. Roberts heard someone say they had been shot.
She had seen Farnsworth with a gun and knew he had it drawn while wrestling her grandson into a corner. Farnsworth was on top of him in the corner, and her grandson was shot. At the hospital “they told us Tyshawn had ‘expired’ but wouldn’t show us his body. He was already removed and at the police coroner,” Christine Pollard, Tyshawn’s cousin, remembered.
The coroner’s report would tell the family later that a bullet went into his back, into his heart, and into his lung.
In the meantime, Officer Farnsworth claimed he had been shot as well, under his bullet-proof vest. After the shooting at Tyshawn’s residence, Officer Rovenko was on the phone with a dispatcher while Officer Farnsworth sat on the bed “as if nothing had happened,” Mrs. Roberts claimed. Later, the family was told Farnsworth was in the hospital in critical condition, which was odd, they thought, since they had seen him walk out of their house “on his own” after killing Tyshawn.
Although Farnsworth was said to be in critical condition, Tyshawn’s family said the officer neither took any time off work, nor was he put on any kind of leave after the deadly incident, pending an investigation.
Slain man filed sovereignty papers
Witnesses told the family they had seen two white men park and get out of their car by the residence and put on bullet proof vests. They were not wearing uniforms. Then, one went to the front door, and one went around to the back of the house. Officer Farnsworth is a trained professional shooter and the head of several shooting clubs, the family told The Free Press.
The family wonders: what were two white plainclothes officers with bullet-proof vests and guns, one a trained killer, prepared for when they were sent to Tyshawn’s house? Neither of the men were Tyshawn’s probation officer, and they don’t believe he knew either one. Why didn’t Farnsworth wait for the grandfather to fetch him? Why did he go upstairs and barrel into his room with a gun drawn?
Tyshawn, a barber, weighed in at only 120 pounds. Tyshawn’s offense did not include a weapon, he was not considered a dangerous threat to society, and he had no major restrictions on his probation except to report for probationary meetings.
Tyshawn was on felony probation for getting into a fight in a bar and biting another man’s nostril. No weapons were used in the fight. Tyshawn’s side of the story revealed that he was being choked and was trying to get free, his family recounted.
As it happened, Tyshawn had failed to report for a visit with his probation officer. In fact, he had recently signed paperwork at the Ohio Attorney General’s office declaring himself a sovereign person, not under the jurisdiction of the U.S. government or the state of Ohio. This is part of a far right-wing white movement, with few blacks involved.
In a 2013 10TV news story, an FBI official referred to sovereign citizens as “domestic terrorists.” The article also quoted a police chief calling them “anti-government extremists.”
Just this past February, The Columbus Dispatch published an article entitled “'Sovereign citizens can be risk for police.” The article tells of law enforcement using special precautions when confronting a known sovereign citizen and that, “instead of confronting Mark Kulis at his North Side house last month, the deputies waited until they could stop him in his car.”
However, in the Dispatch article, a Columbus FBI agent with expertise in domestic terrorism stated that the majority of sovereign citizens are not violent.
Tyshawn’s family told The Free Press that the day Tyshawn had scheduled to file more papers declaring his sovereignty, he was killed. The family’s minister suspects “they sent a message by sending in a professional killer.”
Neighbors told the family that probation officers had come around, asking about Tyshawn. A few days before his death, Tyshawn was pulled over twice, but not held. If he was wanted for not reporting for probation, the family wondered why he was not held then. “If the police had kept him, he’d be alive today,” Mikeea mused.
“To see your grandson murdered right in front of you, it’s devastating,” Mrs. Roberts said.
She recalled that Rovenko, the second probation officer at the scene of the killing, actually apologized to her husband. When Mr. Roberts asked “What kind of procedure was that?” the second officer said, “I wasn’t the first one there…”
Minister Kujenga Ashe, a friend of the family, has tried to get them some help. He has connected them with the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the American Civil Liberties Union, and helped them employ an attorney.
“It’s like a modern day lynching. You don’t see officers going into Bexley and shooting down white kids. Black youth are expendable – nobody cares about them,” Ashe stated, “The South Linden community has 29 percent unemployment. Young boys go around selling pot, go to jail for it, all while it’s legal in Colorado and other places.”
“It’s the 21st century and it’s like there’s been a turnaround – unarmed black youth are shot --- hands up,” Ashe said.
Ashe reflected on how police shootings of black men have been going on for decades in Columbus. He related the stories of two other black people he knew who were killed by police. Sixteen-year-old Calvin Reynolds was shot in the back for stealing an 8-track tape. Keith Burke was joyriding in a cab, shot in the back and killed. /Joyriding is driving around in a STOLEN ca The father of Mikeea’s children had also been shot by the police and is now paralyzed.
“Columbus is one prayer away from Ferguson,” Ashe surmised.
“We sympathize with the Brown family,” Mikeea said, referring Michael Brown, shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri, “’cause we’re going through the same thing.”
Jacque noted, “I feel bad for Brown’s mother. There’s nothing we can do to stop what they’re doing. We just got to keep fighting.”
“It happened years ago, and it’s still happening,” Mikeea said. “Maybe in Columbus, we’re just not mad enough yet.”

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Article 2

1 Dead, Probation Officer Injured In Shooting In Southeast Columbus Source

One family is mourning the loss of their grandson, while another is praying for the quick recovery of a probation officer who was shot while trying to do his job. The officer-involved shooting happened just before 10 a.m. on Thursday in the 2800 block of Petzinger Road in east Columbus.
Police say the shooting happened in an upstairs bedroom at the home of 37-year-old Tyshawn Hancock. Probation officers where there to arrest Hancock , but rather than cooperate, police say Hancock dove for a gun. He was then shot and killed, but not before wounding a probation officer. Sources tell 10TV the wounded officer is 44-year-old John Farnsworth.
The victim’s family believes this shooting deserves a thorough investigation based on what they say happened in the home.
When probation officers came to the Petzinger Road home, Hancock’s grandfather - Charles Roberts - knew they were coming for his grandson. He says he told the officers he was going to bring Tyshawn downstairs when chaos ensued. “They go rushing into the room, then next thing I hear, a struggle and gun shots.”
Police say Hancock dove for a gun inside a small room upstairs just as officers were attempting to arrest him. “They located him in an upstairs bedroom. The suspect dove for the gun (and) the probation officer physically tried to wrestle the gun away from him,” said Sgt. Rich Weiner of the Columbus Division of Police.
Police say during that struggle, the suspect shot the probation officer in the abdomen, and the officer fired back with a fatal shot. But the shooting didn't stop there, according to Roberts. He says after the first shots, Hancock was shot again and the officer who fired never asked if anyone in the house had a gun, or if there were any other people in the house. Police say there was a 3-year and 8-year-old inside. After the shooting, authorities found two guns inside the house, linked to the suspect.
As for the victim's family, they hope the officer makes a full recovery. “I hope he recovers - nothing against him - but we lost a grandson. We lost a grandson in something we could have avoided.”
Meanwhile, 10TV has learned Farnsworth was wearing a bullet proof vest at the time of the shooting and it may have saved his life. Sources close to the investigation say it appears the vest stopped the momentum of the bullet that ultimately pierced the officer's side.
10TV was there Thursday morning when medics rushed Farnsworth to Grant Medical Center. Sources say he was stabilized, and the injury wasn't considered life threatening. 10TV also spoke with veteran SWAT officer Cpl.Tim Longshore, who says there's a reason most officers are diligent about wearing that vest. "It's never been an afterthought, (or) a second thought. The vest is part of it.” Farnsworth is experienced in serving warrants and has worked closely with SoFAST, a task force designated to go after fugitives.

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Article 3

Grand jury clears probation officer in fatal shooting Source

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Franklin County grand jury has declined to indict a probation officer who fatally shot a man who fired at him first at an East Side home four months ago. The shooting occurred when Jonathan D. Farnsworth and another probation officer were attempting to arrest Tyshawn Hancock at 2850 Petzinger Rd. on a probation violation on July 10. Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said the grand jury reviewed the case on Friday and found no criminal conduct by Farnsworth.
The two probation officers had entered a bedroom at the house when Hancock grabbed a gun from under a bed and started shooting. O’Brien said Farnsworth was struck once in the abdomen but managed to tackle Hancock in a struggle for the gun. As they struggled, Farnsworth grabbed his own gun and fired at Hancock, O’Brien said. Hancock, 37, died at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center. Farnsworth, 45, recovered from his wound.
Ballistics tests determined that Hancock fired three times and Farnsworth fired once, O’Brien said. Hancock had violated his probation on a conviction for attempted aggravated assault. All fatal shootings involving law-enforcement officers in Franklin County are reviewed by a grand jury.

Found this while cleaning out my closet! From 06/02/2006 which is almost exactly 17 years ago! Pretty cool coincidence

Filling out a survey the Dispatch sent and am so, so, so confused by how they came up with this list of areas of "Columbus". Nothing south of downtown? No Forest Park, Hilltop, or Linden but BOTH King Lincoln and Near East Side? Dublin but no other suburbs??
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The official unveiling is Thursday.
It's how big? What you need to know about Columbus' longest piece of public art
https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/arts/2023/05/27/large-art-sculpture-installed-downtown-columbus-high-street/70262258007/

1972 - "Rockin' Robin" enters the UK Top 50 Singles chart where it will peak at #3 during a fourteen week run.
1973 - The Jackson 5 had a two-show gig at Vets Memorial in Columbus, Ohio. Ticket prices were $6, $5, and $4.
The next day, The Dispatch published a review with glowing terms, including "undeniably funky." The story, Soul-Swinging Jackson Five Score in Two Shows, said the performances "turned out mostly J-5 patriots" who had waited nearly two years for the Motown rockers to return to Columbus. (Previous shows were at Vets Memorial on 1/30/71 & at the Ohio State Fair on 8/28/71)
The evening performance featured 18 songs, including Stevie Wonder's "Superstitious" & The Temptations' "Poppa Was a Rollin' Stone."
"Individually, Michael and Jermaine lead the vocal work," reported Jack Willey of The Dispatch staff, "with Michael's striking flexibility acting almost like a lead instrument for the band. Whether fronting his brothers ... or soloing ... his style is clear, precise and very much his own."
The opening band was a new soul group called the Commodores
1975 - On their Destiny Tour, The Jacksons play the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee
1997 - Michael Jackson's Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix was released in the US
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1997 - Michael Jackson's video HIStory On Film Volume 2 was released
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2003 - Michael Jackson arrives in Indianapolis with his cousins Rijo, Simone, Elijah & Levon. He came to give a deposition in court following a lawsuit brought by Steeltown Records boss Gordon Keith. The lawsuit accuses the Jackson Five and others of infringing the trade name of Ripples and Waves, another Gary band from the 1960s, and two of their songs.
The time and place of the deposition are being kept secret, but some fans thought they knew where it would take place.Jackson's attorney has also asked to keep the transcript of the deposition sealed, bar media from the deposition room, and prohibit recording devices other than those utilized by the court reporter and videographer.
WISH-TV reported that a few dozen fans gathered outside the Canturbury Hotel, where Jackson had rented out the entire 12th floor, in downtown Indianapolis in hopes of catching a glimpse of him
Fans got their first closeup glance of him as he toured Circle Centre Mall
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People who waited to meet Michael say he was nice and courteous. He signed several autographs and even at one point ended up in the middle of the crowd while trying to get out of the mall.
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He's expected to spend most of tomorrow afternoon giving his deposition
But fans just wanted to know if his Indiana roots are still in tact.
"Michael, what's it like to be back in Indiana? What's it like to be back in Indiana?'
"It's the best! Best baby, yea."
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2005 - Trial Day 57
Michael goes to court with Katherine & Randy.
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Amidst speculation that the trial could wrap up as early as next week, Michael's former defense attorney resumed his testimony. Mark Geragos told jurors last week that he had ordered the surveillance of the Arvizo family because he “was concerned they were meeting with a lawyer to make some accusation or sell their story to tabloids.”
The lawyer also said he did not remember being told that the Arvizo family had returned to Jackson’'s Neverland Ranch in mid-February and said he was uneasy about that possibility because he "was concerned about a false story or a concocted one."
Geragos testified that he gave a “broad directive” to investigator Brad Miller to follow the family, instructing him to “find out who they're meeting with and what they're doing.” However, he said he did not specify the particular surveillance methods to be used.
Prosecutors have previously shown surveillance videos of the family to support their allegations that Jackson & his associates were attempting to hold the Arvizo family captive.
Prosecutor Ron Zonen tried to link Miller to the alleged kidnapping conspiracy. He asked Geragos if he was aware that an employee of Millers is alleged to have thrown rocks at the house of the accuser's grandmother.
Geragos responded, "“I don't send people out to throw stones at people's houses"
Prosecutors also questioned Geragos about the Arvizo family’s interview with the DCFS in February, 2003. In previous testimony the mother, Janet Arvizo, claimed that Miller & a man she knew as “Asef” had attended the interview. She said “Asef”, whom she believed was a part of Jackson’s security team, had asked her to secretly record the interview. She further claimed that “Asef” had threatened the safety of her parents should she not comply.
Geragos testified that he was aware the interview was taking place but said he did not direct Miller to attend or to secretly tape the interview. Importantly for the defense, he also said that Asef Vilchic in fact worked for Miller and not for Jackson.
Once again, exchanges between Zonen and Geragos were often heated. At one point, Judge Rodney Melville criticized the prosecution for approaching the witness stand too often without permission.
Geragos had refused to answer certain questions during his testimony last Friday due to a limited waiver of his attorney-client privilege. Judge Melville had been under the impression the waiver was complete, but in fact it only covered Geragos for events leading up to Jackson’s arrest.
Judge Melville said “I feel deceived by Mr. Mesereau and I am considering ... sanctions of some sort against Mr. Mesereau”. Mesereau had apologized for the confusion, explaining that he had not thought the period after the arrest would be relevant. Court observers expected the sanctions to include a fine.
The Judge said that he could have stricken Geragos’ testimony from the record but did not feel this was viable as the jury had already heard his testimony. However, he said he would entertain the prosecution's motion to strike the testimony from the record once completed.
Judge Melville also stated that a condition of his allowing Geragos to resume testimony was that whenever prosecutors asked him about events after November 2003, he was to tell the jury, "I refuse to answer that question based on attorney client privilege."
Zonen stated in court Friday that the defense may rest their case as early as next week.
"We're approaching the end of trial," he told Judge Melville. ”The defense has indicated they may be resting as early as next Tuesday."
Defense attorneys did not contradict the statement but did not comment on it.
Court Transcript
2006 - Michael meets with Prince Abdullah (Bahrain) for the last time and informs his host that he is travelling to London and Tokyo. Shortly after producer Bill Bottrell and drummer Brian Macleod arrives in Bahrain to work on new songs for Michael’s project
2009 - Michael goes to Dr Klein’s in Beverly Hills
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2009 - Kenny Ortega and Randy Phillips announce in a press conference that the 4 opening O2 shows have been rescheduled from July 8 to July 13 due to production delays
2009 - In a letter signed by Michael, Leonard Rowe is prevented from working or speaking on his behalf. Frank Dileo is now Michael's one & only manager.
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The letter was only publicized after Michael’s death. Leonard Rowe also claims (Like Tohme Tohme) that he never received such letter. The letter did have a Michael Jackson signature. By whom & when was this letter was actually signed is unknown. 
2013 - Jackson v AEG Trial Day 14
Katherine, Rebbie and Trent Jackson are at court.
LATimes reported that Jacksons offered a settlement.
Kevin Boyle , a lawyer for Katherine Jackson and Michael's kids , said they offered to settle the lawsuit against AEG, but that they never got an answer. Kevin Boyle said the family made the offers in January & March. Boyle would not provide details but said AEG's insurance would have paid, which means they could have settled the case without them paying a dime of their money. He said AEG has never offered to settle & they haven't apologized.
Marvin Putnam, an attorney for AEG, said it was inappropriate to discuss settlement discussions, "We don't settle matters that are utterly baseless. We believe that is the case in this matter. I can't see why we would consider a settlement as anything other than a shakedown"
CNN Reports there was a snack controversy during trial: AEG lawyers gave a bag of peppermint candy to the bailiff to hand out to the jury this week. Even Katherine Jackson enjoyed the treat but Jackson's lawyer raised an objection, suggesting jurors might be influenced if they realized the source of the sweets. A compromise was reached. Each side can provide snacks for jurors, but they'll be placed at the bailiff's desk before jurors enter court so they have no clue who brought it.
Shawn Trell Testimony
Jackson direct
AEG Live General Counsel, Shawn Trell, told jurors that he had forgotten that Kenny Ortega was working under a signed contract.
Trell said he met with his attorneys last night and reviewed one doc -- Kenny Ortega's contract. "He had a written contract," Trell said. "I remember the email dynamic. I'm not too proud to admit that I didn't recall the cover contract," Trell said he was changing his previous testimony to add that Ortega had a written contract, not only emails between him and AEG
Next topic was Insurance: Cancellation/Non-Appearance/Sickness. Trell said he started working on insurance for the tour in November of 2008. Panish showed several chains of emails where the parties talked about the insurance for the tour
Email from Bob Taylor insurance broker to Trell on 1/7/09:

Prior to speaking with carriers we ask the artist to attend medical with a doctor...A full medical with both blood/urine tests. The doctor also wants to review the medical records over the last 5 years to ensure full disclosure. Insurers require further medical examination to be carried out by their nominated doctor. They may restrict illness coverage or death from illness coverage until this examination has taken place

Email from 4/30/09 - Wooley to Trell :

"We have no coverage against Michael sickness unless and until he submits to another medical in London

Email from 5/28/09 - Trell to Taylor:

"We really need to get that medical done"

Email from 6/23/09 - Trell to Taylor :

"Any update on the availability of Term insurance?" (life insurance)

Trell said if they secured life insurance, they would get money if Michael died. "We would get the money owed to us, yes," Trell testified. Trell also said he continued discussions with an insurance broker about additional coverage to recoup AEG Live's investment if the tour had to be canceled.
Email from 6/24/09 -Taylor to Trell :

Insurers have refused to move on this. Huge amount of speculation in the media regarding artist's health. They feel if they're to consider providing illness to cover this particular artist, they must have very through medical report

Email from 6/25/09 - Gongaware to Taylor :

"If we don't get sickness coverage, we are dropping this policy"

Email from 6/25/09 - Taylor to Gongaware :

The consultation in London is critical. The doctor is holding the afternoon of the 6th July open at Harley St. But keep in mind the visit could take 2 hours plus

Next topic: Budget/Costs. Panish showed an email from AEG's Rick Webking to Michael's estate with 1st report of artist advances/expenses. This was a letter sent to the estate containing the expenses incurred, Trell said. "It seems to me we submitted this report for their review, I don't see any request for payment," Trell said.
Trell said he spoke with Randy Phillips and Paul Gongaware about Michael's physical condition prior to coming to testify. "I had heard about rehearsals in which Mr. Jackson was fantastic," Trell said
Trell said he's aware of email from Ortega saying doctor was not allowing Michael to attend rehearsal on June 14, 2009. "I was aware of the doctor not allowing him to attend rehearsal," Trell said
Email from 6/17/09 from Phillips:

"...Ortega, Gongaware, Dileo, and his doctor Conrad from Vegas and I have an intervention with him to get him to focus and come to rehearsal"

Email from 6/17/09 from Gongaware to Phillip's assistant:

"We need a physical therapist and a nutritionist"

Email from Production Manager - Gongaware/Phillips on 6/19/09 :

"Paul/Randy I'm not bring a drama queen here. Kenny asked me to notify you both Michael was sent home without stepping foot on stage. He was a basket case and Kenny was concerned he would embarrass himself on stage, or worse yet, be hurt. The company is rehearsing right now, but the DOUBT is pervasive"

Email from Randy Phillips to Tim Leiweke on 6/19/09 :

"We have a huge problem here."

"I think he recognized there was a problem on the 19th," Trell said. "I would take it seriously, as I believe Mr. Phillips did." Trell agreed with a statement by plaintiff's attorney, Brian Panish, that company executives knew by then there was a "deep issue" with Jackson
Does Trell consider that exchange a "red flag" that AEG Live should have noticed, Panish asked. "I would take it seriously, as I believe Mr. Phillips did," Trell answered. "I don't know I would use the word 'red flag'
One of the emails shown to the jury was from Jackson estate co-executor John Branca, sent 5 days before Jackson's death & marked 'confidential':

"I have the right therapist/spiritual advisosubstance abuse counselor who could help (recently helped Mike Tyson get sober and paroled) Do we know whether there is a substance issue involved (perhaps better discussed on the phone)

The email was sent the same day that a meeting was held at Jackson's home with Murray. No further info given to jury.
Trell said Mr. Phillips never told him about this email
Email from Ortega to Randy Phillips on 6/20/09: (chain of emails)

"I honestly don't think he is ready for this based on his continued physical weakening and deepening emotional state"

Trell said he didn't see these emails. He said he spoke with Randy Phillips about Phillips' perception of Michael, in order to prepare for testifying, but not about specific emails. Trell has been designated as the most qualified person to speak on behalf of AEG
Email from Phillips to Gongaware on 6/20/09 at 1:52 am :

"Tim and I are going to see him tomorrow, however, I'm not sure what the problem is Chemical or Physiological?"

From Gongaware to Phillips, on 6/20/09 at 5:59 am :

"Take the doctor with you. Why wasn't he there last night?"

From Phillips to Gongaware, on 6/20/09 at 2:01 pm :

"He is not a psychiatrist so I'm not sure how effective he can be at this point obviously, getting him there is not the issue. It is much deeper"

Trell said Randy Phillips went to a handful of rehearsals, three at the Forum and two at Staples Center. The head of the marketing department attended rehearsal on June 23, 2009. "She was blown away by it," Trell testified.
He said he was unaware of issues with Jackson at rehearsals."I knew of no problems with Michael Jackson at all",Trell testified.
Trell said he never saw the emails from Phillips directing people to exclude images from This Is It of Michael looking "skeletal" while rehearsing. "What were his observations of Michael's physical condition during rehearsal," Trell said. "I asked for his (Phillips) personal opinion."
Next line of questioning is about human resources and background checks. Trell said they can be valuable and useful tools when hiring. Background check costs around $40 to $125. Trell said AEG Live could afford this fee. "We don't do background checks on independent contractors," Trell said. Trell said he was involved in the hiring by AEG Live for the This Is It tour. His department was responsible for retaining independent contractors. Trell said he is not familiar with background check process for hiring. "I am not familiar with the process of doing background checks," Trell said. "No training."
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Panish: "There was no hiring criteria for the This Is It tour, correct?"
Trell: "Not to my knowledge"

Trell testified that when it comes to independent contractors, they have either worked with the artists, AEG or known in the industry. Trell agreed that no background check was done on anyone working on the This Is It tour. AEG Live General Counsel Shawn Trell told jurors that no legal or financial checks were done involving Conrad Murray or anyone else who worked as an independent contractor on the This Is It shows.
Depending on the nature of the position, a background could be done, Trell said, like for potential employees in the financial area. Trell said he thought a background check would be appropriate for people working in financial roles, but not tour personnel who weren't employees of AEG
As to independent contractors, Trell said there's no supervision and monitoring like there's for employees

Panish: "You don't do anything to check into background, supervise or protect the artist?"
Trell: "No, safety is a concern"

Trell said that AEG did not hire Murray, that the doctor was like many independent contractors, "When they leave the environment, what they do on their own time is their own business.
Trell testified he doesn't believe the artist is more at risk because AEG Live doesn't do background checks
"We did nothing to monitor Dr. Murray," Trell said. "We did not monitor whatever it was that he was doing, no."
"It called for Michael Jackson being able to terminate Dr. Murray at will," Trell said about the contract. "If the concerts didn't go forward, and he was terminated under this provision, Dr. Murray would not be paid going forward," Trell explained
As to Dr Murray being under dire financial straits, Trell said that he doesn't know if he agrees with it, everyone's perception is different

Trell: "I certainly wasn't aware of it at the time"
Panish: "Because you didn't check, right?"
Trell: "That's right"
"I don't think conflict of interests are a good thing, and we would want to prevent it," Trell said

Email from Kathy Jorie to Shawn Trell on 6/24/09 at 12:54 am:
Subject: Revised agreement with GCA Holdings/Dr. Murray
It had two attachments Attachments: Revised Michael Jackson -AEG GCA Holdings Murray Agreement 6-18-09 Final MJ -- AEG GCA Holdings Agreement (Dr. Murray) 6-23-09
Email chain from 6/23/09, 5:39pm from Jorrie to Wooley, Murray
Subject: RE: Michael Jackson - Revised Agreement with GCA Holdings/Dr. Murray Email:

I have redlined the Word version so that you can see all of the revisions. In addition, I've attached clean PDF version for execution" (The email says that if Dr. Murray approved it, he was to print it, sign and send it back to Jorrie)

​

Panish: "Did Ms. Jorrie call this contract a draft?"
Trell: "She called it a Final Version"
"Every document is a draft until it is executed," Trell said.

Panish showed emails exchanged among AEG executives that contained drafts of Murray's contract. Although Murray had signed a contract with the company, neither Jackson nor anyone from AEG had added their signatures. Trell testified that a copy of the contract had never been sent to Jackson
With Trell on the stand, Panish played part of an interview that AEG Live President Randy Phillips gave to Sky News television soon after Michael's death. "This guy was willing to leave his practice for a very large sum of money, so we hired him," Phillips said. Panish also showed jurors an e-mail between AEG lawyers suggesting that Phillips told other interviewers AEG Live "hired" Murray.

Panish: "Isn't it true that Randy Phillips made numerous comments that AEG Live hired Dr. Murray?" Trell: "I know he has made that statement"

Panish said AEG higher-ups became concerned after Phillips made such admission. Trell said he didn't know if that was true. Bruce Black is the General Counsel for parent company of AEG and AEG Live. Michael Roth is AEG's media relations
Email from Kathy Jorrie to Bruce Black and Michael Roth on 8/25/09: Subject: AEG Live president says AEG Live hired Dr. Conrad Murray
Panish shows Trell a deposition, under oath, given by insurance broker Bob Taylor on another case. Trell said he has never seen or read it. Trell denied having a telephone conversation with Mr. Taylor where Trell asked him if a doctor's compensation was covered in the insurance.

Panish: "Does that refresh your recollection that AEG was employing Dr. Murray?"
Trell: "Mr. Taylor has this completely wrong"

After lunch break, Brian Panish asked if Shawn Trell wanted to change anything else in his testimony, to which he said "No"
Bruce Black, attorney for Anschutz, was present in the meeting with LAPD. Trell met with the police on 1/12/10. Trell told the police that day that Dr. Murray would receive $150,000 compensation per month. Trell also said that Dr. Murray requested and AEG would provide necessary medical equipment and a nurse. More than five months after Jackson's death, Trell said, he informed LAPD detectives that Murray initially requested $5 million to join the tour but eventually agreed to a salary of $150,000 a month for 10 months.

Panish: "As far as you know, all the agreements written for TII tour was done under AEG Live Productions, right?"
Trell: "Yes"
Panish: "Was Dr. Murray trying to help AEG get insurance?"
Trell: "The policy was in both names, so he was helping both parties"

Trell said Dennis Hawk, who represented Michael, was in touch with Taylor regarding the insurance
​

Panish: "As of June 2009, you don't even know whether Mr. Jackson had a personal manager working for him, right?"
Trell: "Well, my understanding at the time there were a couple of people acting in that capacity"

Email on 6/2/09 from Randy Phillips to Jeff Wald:

"Jeff, remember getting Michael to focus is not the easiest thing in the world and we still have no lawyer, business manager, or, even real manager in place. It is a nightmare!"

Trell said the only time he saw an artist's signature required to retain an independent contractor was for Dr. Murray. Trell said his understanding was that Dr. Murray worked for Michael for 3 years; didn't know how many times MJ saw Dr. Murray. "I've never spoken with Dr. Murray ever. And I met/spoke with Mr. Jackson once," Trell said.
"He was a significant expense," Trell testified about Dr. Murray. Trell said AEG Live didn't do anything to check Dr. Murray's competency as doctor, other than checking his physician license. Trell said AEG didn't do anything to determine Dr. Murray's financial conditions in 2009.
Jury was shown an email that Phillips sent to Kenny Ortega on night of June 20, 2009. It was email urging Ortega to stand down.
Email on 6/20/09 Phillips to Ortega :

Kenny it's critical that neither you, me, anyone around this show become amateur psychiatrist/physicians. I had a lengthy conversation with Dr. Murray, who I am gaining immense respect for as I get to deal with him more. He said that Michael is not only physically equipped to perform & discouraging him to will hasten his decline instead of stopping it. Dr. Murray also reiterated that he is mentally able to and was speaking to me from the house where he had spent the morning with Michael. This doctor is extremely successful (we check everyone out) and does not need this gig so he is totally unbiased and ethical

Panish asked Trell whether Phillips "characterization to Ortega, given no background check was done, was a lie". Trell responded that he didn't know what Phillips knew or was thinking when he wrote that email to Ortega. Trell also said he expected Randy Phillips to testify at some point during the trial, so he could address the email himself
​

Panish then asked Trell, "Sir, you never checked out one single thing about Dr. Murray -- you've already told me that, correct?"
"As of the date of the email, that would've been correct",Trell said.

When pressed by Panish, Trell said that Phillips' statement that Murray had been checked out, along with the executive's claim that the doctor 'does not need this gig' were inaccurate. "I don't know where Randy's understanding or impression comes from", Trell said. Trell testified that Phillips might have been "misinformed" or simply was stating his impression of the Las Vegas cardiologist

Panish: "But no one at AEG checked Dr. Murray to see if he was successful or not, isn't that true?"
Trell: "Yes"

Panish then asked several pointed questions about whether Shawn Trell agreed with Phillips telling Ortega they'd checked Murray out. One of Panish's questions was whether Trell thought Phillips' email was 'acceptable conduct'
Panish called Phillips' statement "a flat out lie" and asked Trell whether he agreed with it or if it signified how AEG did business. Trell said he didn't know what Phillips thought he knew when he wrote the message. "I know this statement is not accurate, but you'd have to speak with Mr. Phillips about what he thought or meant in saying it," Trell said.

Panish: "That's a flat out lie, isn't it sir?"
Trell: "I don't know what Mr. Phillips intended to say, this should be a question to him"

​

Panish: "You don't know if he was successful or facing bankruptcy, did you?"
Trell: "No"

​

Trell: "I know the statement is not accurate. You have to speak with Mr. Phillips about what he meant to say"
Panish: "Do you agree with the CEO of your company making untrue statements?"
Trell: "I don't know that he didn't know it wasn't true when he said it"

Trell said Phillips never told him that he checked Dr. Murray out. As to reference in Phillips' email about Dr. Murray being unbiased, ethical, not needing this gig, Trell said it was Phillips' impressions. He said AEG typically only runs background checks on candidates applying for full-time jobs with AEG, not independent contractors.
​

Panish: "Isn't it true AEG Live does not do background check on independent contractors?"
Trell: "That's true"

Trell said that no one from AEG interviewed Dr. Murray because he was an independent contractor.
​

"Did anyone from AEG ever at any time interview Dr. Murray", asked Brian Panish
"No", Trell replied.

Panish showed a document used by AEG entitled "Disclosure and Authorization to Conduct Background Check". Doc is used for employment, promotion, retention, contingent or the rate staffing, consulting, sub-contract work, or volunteer work. Panish asked if there was any reason why Dr. Murray was not given a background check. "He wasn't an employee, he wasn't applying for a full time position with the company," Trell explained. Trell said theoretically they could've asked to check Dr. Murray's background and credit.
AEG Cross
Jessica Bina began her examination by showing the letter submitted by AEG's CFO to the Estate of Michael Jackson for their review. She asked Shawn Trell about the estimate presented to Jackson's estate that included Murray's $300k fees. She asked why it was prepared. Shawn Trell said it was done at the request of the estate. He said Jackson's estate wanted to know state of tour finances when Jackson died. Trell said the report was requested by the Estate after a series of meetings after Michael's death. "The purpose of the meeting was to wind up the business affairs of the tour due to Michael's death", Trell said. "It was my understating in June Tohme was back in the picture in some capacity. I'm not sure which, Mr. DiLeo was in it too," Trell said
​

Bina: "Is there any request for payment?"
Trell: "No, there's no demand for payment, it's for review"

Stebbins Bina asked about the inclusion of Murray's fee in the document. Bina showed the report that was attached to the letter. Murray's fee on the document had a footnote. Trell read what that footnote said, and explained why estate wasn't asked for Murray's fee. Next to "Management Medical" there's a reference to footnote 3. Note 3: 'Contract is not signed by Michael Jackson and such signature was condition precedent to any payment obligation' - Footnote on Murray fee. Trell testified Webking, the CFO for AEG, did not ask Michael's Estate for payment of Dr. Murray's salary
"You testified you were somewhat confused (by the inclusion of the $300,000)?", Bina asked Trell as she projected the list, dated July 17, 2009, on a screen for jurors.
"Do you see there's something in parentheses?', Stebbins Bina asked, zooming in to blow up a footnote from AEG CFO Frederick Webking that stated Michael Jackson never signed Murray's contract, so its terms were not enforceable.
"Is Mr. Webking asking the estate to pay?", Stebbins Bina asked Trell. "No", he replied, explaining that upon reflection he believed Mr. Webking was just being 'thorough' by including the $300,000 as a budgeted cost.
​

"Did Mr. Webking make a mistake as you thought yesterday?",she asked.
"No, he did not", Trell answered

Second report made to the Estate on 9/18/09, there was no amount next to management medical. Stebbins Bina then showed a Sept. 2009 report of This Is It's finances to Michael Jackson's estate. Murray's fee is not listed in that document
Trell went through his job description with AEG. He said he has five lawyers in his department and has worked on thousands of agreements. Trell explained what PMK is -- Person Most Knowledgeable, identified by the company to testify on its behalf. Trell said he didn't know about all the topics he was designated, so he had to do some studying and interviews with people
As to Ortega's contract, Trell said he was aware of a string of emails being at least a part of the original agreement with Kenny. "When we were done here yesterday, I looked at Kenny Ortega's original agreement," Trell said. Trell noted he hadn't looked at Ortega's agreement since it was entered into in 2009. Before the afternoon break, Trell and jury were shown Kenny Ortega's tour agreement. It was signed in April 2009. The agreement was three pages of legalese, with several pages of emails attached that confirmed the terms. The first three pages included some paragraphs that described who owned the rights to This Is It content. A large number of emails are part of the agreement as exhibits. Trell said he recalled the emails exchange and admitted again not being proud of forgetting the cover contract portion. Bina showed Ortega's executed contract with everyone's signature on it. Trell said Kenny Ortega was paid after his contract was signed.
Trell, Phillips and Kathy Jorrie were involved in drafting and negotiating the contract with Michael Jackson. For MJ, Trell said Dr. Tohme Tohme and attorneys Dennis Hawk and Peter Lopez represented him. He said there were multiple drafts. "It's my understanding they were talking to, or at least receiving offers from, a competitive of ours, Live Nation," Trell said. Trell also said that before signing an agreement with AEG, Jackson had been considering a tour offer from its main competitor, Live Nation.
Bina showed the jury the final tour agreement. Trell said he went to MJ's home at Carolwood to sign it. Upon arrival, Trell said Mr. Jackson got up from where he was seated, and said 'Hi, welcome, I'm Michael." Trell said it was pretty funny, since he was a very distinct person. Trell said they shook hands, he had a good firm handshake and his voice was not what people think
"He popped up, came over, introduced himself, was very cordial, there was a real positive energy, good vibe in the room," Trell said. "He seemed genuinely enthused," Trell added. "He had the contract in front of him, said he read every page, seemed very enthused." Trell said they all signed it and Mr. Jackson was really keen on the 3-D stuff, that he was already down the road in his mind. "I was probably there just a little less than an hour. And that was the only time I met him," Trell recalled.
Bina discussed the contract for the tour agreement:

A first class performance by Artist at each show on each of the approved itineraries. Contract: Artist shall perform no less than 80 minutes at each show, and the maximum show length for each show shall be 3.5 hours. Artist shall approve a sufficient number of shows on itineraries proposed by promoter or producer as to recoup the advances made. Trell said compensation was agreed on 90-10 split. Artist received 90% of what's defined contingent compensation.

Trell explained to jury how concerts get paid for. One scenario is artist pays for production up front. A second scenario is that the promoter gives artist an advance, and then they use the money to put together the show. The third option, Trell said, is the artist pays someone like AEG Live to produce and promote the show, with costs to come out of their pay. Trell called the second and third option like an interest-free loan. In Jackson's case, AEG agreed to a 90/10 split of show's proceeds. Jackson would have received the 90 percent portion, Trell said. Jackson was also on the hook for a 5% production fee
AEG Live was promoter & producer. "We advanced the money necessary to mount the tour," Trell explained. "It's interest free money". Trell testified that Jackson's advance, which covered his $100,000-a-month rent on his mansion and a $3-million payment to settle a lawsuit that would free up his performance rights, was considered a loan to be paid back to AEG.
Part of the advance was to pay off the settlement agreement of $3 million in London court. The underlying dispute was that a company owned the rights for Jackson's live performance. "The rights needed to be freed up," Trell said. The advances were to be paid back to AEG Live before the split of revenue. Production Advances were capped to $7.5 million. Contract:

Artist was responsible for all the production costs in excess of the cap and had to reimburse promoter.

"Michael Jackson was known to have very elaborate productions," Trell said. "Production values can get significant, for lack of a better word, it really depends on how many bells and whistles they want," Trell said. Trell said AEG would not advance money without the artist requesting it.
Trell said it's not only typical and customary, but standard and artist needs to secure either non-appearance or cancellation insurance. Their interest in the policy, Trell said, was to cover the advances and production costs incurred with the production of the show. "If the were no obligations to AEG, the payout would go back to the artist", Trell explained, "It just recoups our loan made to the artist."
Trell was also asked about elements of tour insurance policies and an agreement with former manager Tohme Tohme. Jackson's contract called for him to represent to AEG that he didn't have any health conditions that would keep him from performing.
Contract:

Artistco hereby represents and warrants that artist does not possess any known health conditions, injuries or ailments that would reasonable be expected to interfere with Artist's first class performance at each of the shows during the term

Oh Tohme's $100k per month agreement, Trell was shown a January contract that Jackson signed to pay that amount. However, Trell said Tohme's agreement was predicated on Jackson getting tour cancellation insurance by a certain date. Deadline passed and by that point Tohme was no longer Jackson's manager, so he wasn't entitled to be paid his monthly fee.
January 24, 2009 -- agreement entered with Dr. Tohme Tohme. Trell said Michael was involved and signed this agreement. "This agreement was entered into January 26, Trell testified. "There are conditions that needed to be met before any payment could be made." One of the the conditions was placement of non-appearance insurance, Trell said. That placement was done in late April, early May. In May, AEG received letter from MJ saying Tohme didn't rep him anymore. "No payments were ever made under this agreement," Trell explained.
Julie Hollander Transcript
Shawn Trell Transcript