The curious inclusion of James' best friend, Luke.
In Safechuck's original complaint, a random paragraph is included that names Safechuck's best childhood friend, who also visited Neverland numerous times w/ him. Both men were in same grade & remain in Simi Valley to this day.
In Safechuck's original complaint, a random paragraph is included that names Safechuck's best childhood friend, who also visited Neverland numerous times w/ him. Both men were in same grade & remain in Simi Valley to this day.
By James' 2nd amended complaint, Luke's name was removed, instead referring to him just as a best friend.
This paragraph was included to preemptively excuse why James' best friend wouldn't recall any inappropriate conduct occurring—including when sleeping over at NL with James.
This paragraph was included to preemptively excuse why James' best friend wouldn't recall any inappropriate conduct occurring—including when sleeping over at NL with James.
The first two sentences of James' inclusion of his friend establish the actual, innocent facts that Luke would testify to:
"On several occasions, JS took his best friend from school to visit Neverland. During one of his visits, they had a slumber party and game-type activities."
"On several occasions, JS took his best friend from school to visit Neverland. During one of his visits, they had a slumber party and game-type activities."
The rest of the paragraph attempts to explain why Luke's memories of his Neverland visits would not contain any of the sexual undertones that James suddenly alleges.
- They were always careful to avoid getting caught if other people were around.
- They'd "sneak off" to be alone.
- They were always careful to avoid getting caught if other people were around.
- They'd "sneak off" to be alone.
When a reputable witness is in the heart of James' alleged abuse timeline at Neverland but unwilling to change his story by lying about something nefarious, the best attack James has is to claim it all happened secretly. (Luke remains active in the community & church activities.)
James saying MJ was "always careful to avoid getting caught" contradicts his claims of MJ abusing him in open areas as part of the thrill of danger.
It also contradicts the inclusion of Blanca/Michaels/Quindoy/Murdock in his suit as people who told tabloids they saw misconduct.
It also contradicts the inclusion of Blanca/Michaels/Quindoy/Murdock in his suit as people who told tabloids they saw misconduct.
In LN, Wade told a similar story of MJ disappearing with Jordan while others were over, in order to abuse him in the bathroom. However, Jordan never alleged this himself.
This is the only excuse they can come up with as to why other kids at NL w/ them never observed misconduct.
This is the only excuse they can come up with as to why other kids at NL w/ them never observed misconduct.
So why would James' attorneys mention this friend in the first place, only to excuse why he wouldn't had seen any abuse?
Chances are that Luke, like Jane Doe, was named alongside James in '93 police reports as guests at Neverland—potentially even interviewed by police himself.
Chances are that Luke, like Jane Doe, was named alongside James in '93 police reports as guests at Neverland—potentially even interviewed by police himself.
Had James not mentioned Luke in his lawsuit, it is inevitable that the estate would had still discovered him themselves and used his responses to more dramatically confront James' accusations—a lot like Mesereau bringing DCFS witnesses to debunk the Arvizo's original timeline.
Honorable Mention: James' cousin Tony was a year younger than James and is another kid who frequented Neverland with the Safechuck family, but perhaps less prominently than his best friend.
In Oct. 2013, Tony tweeted that MJ was a "great person, [the allegations are] bullshit."
In Oct. 2013, Tony tweeted that MJ was a "great person, [the allegations are] bullshit."
