1. Wide shot of walkway to court

2. Michael Jackson exits the van

3. Various of Jackson walking into court with his mother; waves to fans

4. Interior court, Jackson walking through metal detector

5. Various of lead defence attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. walking into court

6. Actor Chris Tucker, star of the film "Rush Hour", entering through metal detector inside the court

JACSKON DEFENCE CONCLUDES

The defence has rested in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial without putting the pop star on the stand, wrapping up after a surprisingly short three weeks devoted mostly to portraying the accuser's mother as a shakedown artist.

Jurors could get the case as early as the middle of next week to decide whether Jackson should be convicted of molesting a teenage cancer patient at his Neverland ranch.

Defence lawyers portrayed Jackson as the victim of false charges that surfaced once the boy's mother realised she was being weaned from a lavish lifestyle that the singer had financed.

A series of witnesses testified that the mother was a grifter who made a career out of hitting up celebrities for money.

Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting the boy in February or March 2003 when the youth was 13.

He is also charged with giving the teenager alcohol and conspiring to hold his family captive to get them to rebut a documentary in which the boy appeared. Jackson said he let children into his bed for innocent, nonsexual sleepovers.

'Rush Hour' star Chris Tucker, who resumed testimony earlier on Wednesday, was the final defence witness.

Tucker testified that during the time he befriended Jackson's young accuser he found the boy to be unusually sophisticated and cunning child.

Tucker said the boy repeatedly asked for gifts but that he forgave him because he knew he had battled cancer and had family problems.

The actor and comedian had testified Tuesday that he met Jackson's accuser at a benefit while the boy was battling cancer in 2000.

Tucker said that a few days after the benefit the boy told him it hadn't made any money, so he wired "probably 1,500 US dollars or more" to a foundation for the family.

Defence attorneys put Tucker on the stand to bolster their argument that the boy and his family have a history of targeting celebrities for money.

Jackson's attorneys will then be given an opportunity to respond, followed by closing arguments, which probably won't begin before next week.

SHOTLIST

1. Wide shot of walkway to court

2. Michael Jackson exits the van

3. Various of Jackson walking into court with his mother; waves to fans

4. Interior court, Jackson walking through metal detector

5. Various of lead defence attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. walking into court

6. Actor Chris Tucker, star of the film "Rush Hour", entering through metal detector inside the court

JACSKON DEFENCE CONCLUDES

The defence has rested in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial without putting the pop star on the stand, wrapping up after a surprisingly short three weeks devoted mostly to portraying the accuser's mother as a shakedown artist.

Jurors could get the case as early as the middle of next week to decide whether Jackson should be convicted of molesting a teenage cancer patient at his Neverland ranch.

Defence lawyers portrayed Jackson as the victim of false charges that surfaced once the boy's mother realised she was being weaned from a lavish lifestyle that the singer had financed.

A series of witnesses testified that the mother was a grifter who made a career out of hitting up celebrities for money.

Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting the boy in February or March 2003 when the youth was 13.

He is also charged with giving the teenager alcohol and conspiring to hold his family captive to get them to rebut a documentary in which the boy appeared. Jackson said he let children into his bed for innocent, nonsexual sleepovers.

'Rush Hour' star Chris Tucker, who resumed testimony earlier on Wednesday, was the final defence witness.

Tucker testified that during the time he befriended Jackson's young accuser he found the boy to be unusually sophisticated and cunning child.

Tucker said the boy repeatedly asked for gifts but that he forgave him because he knew he had battled cancer and had family problems.

The actor and comedian had testified Tuesday that he met Jackson's accuser at a benefit while the boy was battling cancer in 2000.

Tucker said that a few days after the benefit the boy told him it hadn't made any money, so he wired "probably 1,500 US dollars or more" to a foundation for the family.

Defence attorneys put Tucker on the stand to bolster their argument that the boy and his family have a history of targeting celebrities for money.

Jackson's attorneys will then be given an opportunity to respond, followed by closing arguments, which probably won't begin before next week.