The Michael Jackson child molestation trial is almost over.

Jackson’s defense team may rest next week, as soon as Tuesday, a member of the prosecution told the Santa Maria, California, court this week, in front of Judge Rodney Melville.

The defense did not comment on that statement, though would not deny it.

Jackson’s team had previously said it would need up to eight weeks to present their case, though it may turn out to be under four.

They had presented the court with a list of over 300 witnesses, including stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Nick Carter. Larry King was supposed to testify this week, but Melville did not allow him to speak because he was going to present hearsay. Macaulay Culkin testified last week that he spent many nights sleeping in the same room as Jackson at his Neverland Ranch when he was a young child actor, and Jackson never touched him inappropriately.

Tonight Show host Jay Leno, despite cracking Jackson jokes on his show every night, is scheduled to testify this week.

Jackson’s former defense lawyer, Mark Geragos, took the stand this week. Perhaps the most helpful thing for Jackson that he told the court was that he left the Jackson case to handle other clients. Had Geragos discovered that Jackson was in fact guilty, he would not have been allowed to continue as Jackson’s lawyer, but he said this was not why he left.

Geragos said when he investigated the family, he became concerned for Jackson. He felt that the family was capable of winning the case based on fabrications.

Geragos testified as Jackson waived his attorney-client privilege.

Jackson is not expected to take the stand.

It’s not quite the “trial of the century” as experts promised, probably because there have been few, if any, major surprises, and unlike the O.J. Simpson trial, this case wasn’t broadcast live on television. (One channel acted out the trial transcripts, but nobody seemed to take them seriously.)

As the case comes closer to its end, it appears unlikely that Jackson will be found guilty of molestation because of a lack of evidence. However, Jackson faces 10 counts (he pleaded not guilty to all 10) and what the jury decides will shock people either way.






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