SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) -- Michael Jackson won't take the stand in his child molestation trial, leaving jurors with only the singer's videotaped statements about what happened behind Neverland's closed doors.
After a day of star-studded testimony Tuesday from "Rush Hour" star Chris Tucker and "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, lead defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. said Tucker would be the final defense witness.
Tucker was to resume his testimony Wednesday. After he finishes, the defense was expected to formally rest its case, and prosecutors will begin a rebuttal that is expected to last at least a day.
Jackson's attorneys will then be given an opportunity to respond, followed by closing arguments, which probably won't begin before next week.
As he left court Tuesday, Jackson declined to discuss the decision not to testify. Instead, he smiled, pressed his palms together and said he couldn't comment.
Because taking the stand would have exposed him to cross-examination by prosecutors, the odds of Jackson's testifying were considered remote from the outset.
But speculation that he might take the witness stand was fueled by Mesereau's remark during his opening statement that jurors would hear from Jackson on certain issues.
They did hear from Jackson when his attorneys played nearly three hours of videotaped interviews with the entertainer in which he talked about his feelings for children, which he said were innocent and loving
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