ZDF Documentary on Michael Jackson: "Trial of the Century"
A new ZDF documentary series re-examines accusations against Michael Jackson. Unreleased audio interviews offer insight into his final years.
The new ZDF documentary series, "Michael Jackson – Der Jahrhundertprozess" ("Michael Jackson – Trial of the Century"), revisits the accusations of child sexual abuse leveled against the pop icon.
The series, previously aired on ZDFinfo and now broadcast on the main channel, delves not only into the allegations against Jackson but also into the drama of his life, which ended in 2009 with a Propofol overdose. The four-part series, totaling three hours, provides an extensive look at the events.
Documented details include Jackson's difficult childhood, his prescription drug addiction, the controversial images of him dangling baby "Blanket" from a Berlin hotel window, and the initial abuse allegations from the early 1990s. The 2005 trial is a central focus.
A key new element of the series is the inclusion of previously unreleased audio interviews with Michael Jackson, recorded between 2000 and 2001, prior to the 2005 trial. Jackson was reportedly in a severe crisis, both artistically and personally, during this period.