Jackson defence suddenly rests
27/05/2005 - 21:22:17Michael Jackson’s defence suddenly rested today after prosecutors showed the jury a 2003 videotape of accuser Gavin Arvizo the first time he told investigators he had been molested by the pop star.
The decision to not present a defence rebuttal means closing arguments could begin as early as next Wednesday.
Judge Rodney Melville told jurors they would not need to be in the Santa Maria, California court on Tuesday when lawyers will have discussions.
Defence lawyers had said they planned to call Gavin Arvizo, his mother Janet Arvizo, a psychologist and a lawyer who referred the family to the psychologist.
But after jurors saw a tape of the boy haltingly describing the alleged molestation in much of the same language he used in his evidence, the defence decided not to present any rebuttal witnesses.
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