At Jackson Trial, the Jury Is Out

As Deliberations Begin, Analysts Speculate on the Pop Star's Fate

SANTA MARIA, Calif., June 3 -- After 13 weeks of testimony and two days of contentious closing arguments by prosecution and defense lawyers -- including the playing of videos by each side -- the Michael Jackson molestation case went to the jury Friday afternoon. The eight women and four men on the panel deliberated for two hours, then recessed until Monday morning.

Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old cancer victim in 2003. He faces four counts of molestation, four counts of providing liquor to a minor for purposes of aiding in the molestation, one count of attempted molestation and one count of conspiracy to falsely imprison the alleged victim and his family. If convicted on all counts he faces as much as 20 years in prison.

After court adjourned, the gaggle of lawyers who gather at the courthouse every day -- within earshot of the protesters shouting, "Michael's innocent" -- to offer expert analysis to the media began speculating on the trial's outcome.

"Both sides did a very good job on closing arguments," said Craig Smith, a Santa Barbara College of Law professor and a former prosecutor in this court.

Smith predicted that Jackson would be convicted of molestation and acquitted on the conspiracy charge -- which is what many other observers predict.

Daniel Horowitz, an Oakland, Calif., defense attorney, disagreed. "I'm expecting not guilty on all counts," he said. But, he added, it may take awhile to come to that conclusion. "A certain number of jurors are going to be absolutely convinced that Michael is a molester -- and they'll have a hard time being convinced that reasonable doubt should apply."

"I think both sides could be right here," said Michael Cardoza, a San Francisco defense attorney and former prosecutor. "The prosecution might have proven that Michael Jackson is a pedophile. But did they prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt?"

If jurors believe the prosecution's evidence that Jackson molested boys in the 1990s, Cardoza speculated, they might find Jackson guilty even if they are unconvinced by the current accuser's testimony. "So we may very well have a conviction or a hung jury."

In court, Friday began the way Thursday ended -- with defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. jabbing away at the believability of Jackson's accuser and his family, whom Mesereau described with a repeated refrain of "con artists, actors and liars."

Using a courtroom screen, Mesereau pointed out alleged inconsistencies in the testimony of the accuser and his brother, who claimed he had witnessed the abuse. Mesereau said the accuser and his family concocted the charges to sue Jackson later.

"This is the biggest con of their careers," Mesereau told the jury. "They just need you to help them."

Mesereau also denounced the prosecutors: "Why did they bring this case against Michael Jackson? Because he's a mega-celebrity and they thought they could get away with it. The only hope they have is throwing dirt everywhere and hoping it sticks."