Stolen Boy’s Weblog

In early 2006, Michael brought his own lawyer to court with him and testified for a second time before Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Brian Hill. With Jesse Hollywood’s supporters and curious observers filling one side of the gallery, and the Markowitz family and friends and press members encamped on the other, Blatt chipped away at every piece of evidence the nervous witness might ever have known about. Hours later, when he had finished the examination, Mr. Blatt asked the court to order Michael Mehas to turn over to the court his 239-page story chronology, his book, his character profiles, and much more. This time, however, with the help of some strong argument from the author’s attorney, the judge denied Mr. Blatt’s request. And Michael was finally free to finish his book.

At the time, Michael had felt manipulated by Hollywood’s attorney. He was annoyed at being misled. He resented being dragged into the middle of Hollywood’s death penalty case. He did agree to answer some of Blatt’s questions, but he had never agreed to turn over any of his materials. Michael just wanted Hollywood’s attorney to be aware of the legal issues regarding the evidence that he knew existed. But Mehas understood why Blatt did what he did. Why he put so much legal pressure on the author. Everything James Blatt does in the case is with the idea of saving Jesse Hollywood’s life. The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office and Nick Markowitz’s family have but one collective thought on their minds regarding this case: to bring death to Jesse Hollywood. James Blatt poses Jesse’s last line of defense to that very real threat. Just ask Ryan Hoyt what that’s like. There is no one else standing between Jesse and the death sentence. Blatt has no choice but to cover all the legal bases to prevent his client from dying. Hollywood’s lawyer has a case filled with issues of first impression. Jesse’s case already has and will continue to set legal precedent in diverse areas of the law. This case will continue to be talked about in legal circles everywhere due to the many unique aspects of law it has touched upon. That’s why men like James Blatt do what they do. And why men like Michael Mehas need to learn how to better dodge the legal freight train when searching for more information for their books.   

To be continued….