The real news

As I was flicking through various online media sources catching up on the latest 'news' from the Santa Maria courtroom where Michael Jackson is on trial for child molestation, I came across this article from the Sydney Morning Herald. At last, some reporters are getting to the real nitty gritty of the workings of this trial!

Jackson medal puzzle
March 4, 2005 - 10:20AM

Austrians are puzzled by Michael Jackson's decision to wear the Golden Medal of Honour for Services to Vienna on his left breast at his pedophilia trial in Santa Maria, California.
"We've received hundreds of calls from citizens who want to know if Vienna has really awarded this honour to Michael Jackson," said a city spokesman, Petra Rama.
The answer is "No". Jackson is 46, and you have to be at least 50 to receive the capital's most prestigious honour, which has been handed out only about a thousand times since its inception in 1967, mainly to architects, artists and writers.
Rama acknowledged that the eight-pointed golden star worn by Jackson appears to be genuine. The newspaper Kronen Zeitung speculated Jackson might have bought it from a specialised medal dealer just round the corner from the hotel where he stayed during concert appearances in 1992 and 1997.
One small comfort for Jackson - there is no punishment for unduly wearing an Austrian medal.
AFP