Jackson trial nears its conclusion

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – As courtroom lights dimmed Friday, jurors in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial were confronted with an oddly familiar sight. The dark-haired mumbling boy on the big screen was Jackson’s accuser, back again to tell on videotape the story that launched the trial.

When the lights came up, the prosecution rested its rebuttal case and defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. abruptly did the same. He had called not a single rebuttal witness after threatening to call several. And with that, the trial that had mesmerized millions for months was on its way to its finale.

The decision to not present a defense rebuttal means closing arguments could begin as early as Wednesday.

The videotape offered a dramatic finish for prosecutors in their campaign to convict one of the world’s most famous pop stars. The tape offered little that the boy hadn’t already testified to on the stand, but there was a clear impact. The courtroom was hushed, and at the end, jurors were solemn, looking downward. Jackson had no comment as he left. The jury has been hearing the case since opening statements on Feb. 28.

The prosecution presented more than 80 witnesses and the defense called 50 before ending its main case this week. Prosecutors called 15 rebuttal witnesses, some of whom had testified earlier.

Prosecutors contended the videotape would show the boy’s story has been consistent. The judge admitted the tape for limited purposes – only to examine the demeanor of the boy and not be concerned with “the truth of the matter.”