Michael Jackson Acquitted of Child Molestation Charges

"Michael Jackson, not for the first time, took sexual liberties with a 13-year-old boy," Zonen said. "That testimony [of Jackson's current accuser] should be believed, and Michael Jackson should be held responsible for what he did."

For the Defense, a Credibility Issue

Jackson's defense cast doubt on the credibility of the accuser and his family, particularly his mother. In his closing argument, Mesereau called Jackson offbeat, naïve and a target for the accuser's family, which he said consisted of "con artists, actors and liars." The real issue, Mesereau said, was "whether the accuser's family was credible."

"If you do not believe [the family] beyond a reasonable doubt, Mr. Jackson must be acquitted. That's the law," he said.

The accuser testified that Jackson masturbated him on two occasions. However, on cross-examination, Mesereau pointed out various inconsistencies in his accounts. The alleged victim also admitted that he told a school official after the documentary aired that "nothing happened" between him and the singer.

Mesereau accused the boy and his family of making up the allegations after they met with attorney Larry Feldman, who represented the 1993 accuser. The boy denied telling Feldman about his claims against Jackson.

The boy's sister testified that Jackson served her and her brothers alcohol and held the family hostage at Neverland after "Living With Michael Jackson" aired. But the defense showed a video made after the documentary aired that shows family members praising Jackson. The sister said the praise was coerced.

The accuser's brother -- the only claimed eyewitness to alleged molestation -- told jurors he saw Jackson fondle his brother. But cross-examination showed inconsistencies in the boy's accounts. The brother also admitted that he lied in a deposition for a civil lawsuit against J.C. Penney and Tower Records in which the family received a settlement of $152,000.

Some defense witnesses portrayed the accuser and his brother as unruly guests of Neverland. Jackson's 16-year-old cousin and some Neverland employees told jurors that they saw the alleged victim and his brother with wine and in Jackson's wine cellar outside the singer's presence. Some witnesses said they saw the brothers with Jackson's adult magazines, and Jackson's 12-year-old cousin testified he once saw the accuser and his brother masturbating while watching adult-oriented programming.

Mesereau told jurors the young accuser and his family were trying to pull "the biggest con of their careers."

"They just need you to help them," he said during defense closing arguments.

Jackson's Defense Targeted Accuser's Mother

No witness's character was challenged more by the defense than that of the accuser's mother, who testified about Jackson's alleged conspiracy to hold her and her family hostage so they could make a rebuttal video. Court observers described her behavior and testimony as sometimes bizarre, often erratic, rambling and combative.

In a press conference after the verdict, jurors said there they were not persuaded by one bit of testimony or evidence. But some indicated they were irritated by the demeanor and antics of the mother.

"I disliked it intensely when she snapped her fingers at us," said one woman on the panel, identified as Juror No. 5. She said she thought to herself, "Don't snap your fingers at me, lady."

Melville told jurors that the mother had invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on perjury and welfare fraud allegations. Sneddon had said in opening statements that the mother would admit she took welfare payments to which she was not entitled.

Various defense witnesses portrayed the mother as a welfare cheat who exploited her son's illness to contact celebrities and live lavishly off Jackson. A welfare worker testified that the mother did not reveal that her family had received the six-figure J.C. Penney settlement before she filled out an application for public assistance.

A paralegal at the law firm that handled the J.C. Penney lawsuit said the mother told her the injuries she claimed she received from store guards were inflicted by her then-husband. An accountant told jurors that Jackson paid $7,000 in shopping, dining and other expenses for the family during the time they said he allegedly held them hostage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it only takes one lie under oath to throw this case out of court," Mesereau said during closing arguments. "You can't count all the lies under oath by [the family]. How many does it take to let you know this case is a fraud?"

Jackson's defense also undermined the credibility of some Neverland employees who claimed the singer molested or behaved inappropriately with young boys. The defense pointed to inconsistencies in their accounts, and suggested that some of them had motive to lie because they were part of a failed civil suit against Jackson and were ordered to pay him more than $1 million for costs and legal fees.

Star Power

Jackson's trial promised celebrity testimony, and it didn't disappoint. Former "Home Alone" star Macaulay Culkin, "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, comedic actor Chris Tucker and comedian George Lopez were among the celebrities who took the stand.