Jackson Trial: Defense Witnesses

Defense witness Brett Barnes leaves court after the first day of defense testimony in the Michael Jackson trial, at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria, Calif., May 5, 2005. Barnes said that, as a youth, he stayed with Jackson at least 10 times. Asked if he had ever been touched inappropriately, Barnes said, "Never. I wouldn't stand for it."

Mother

Defense witness Marie Elizabeth Barnes exits the Santa Barbara County Courthouse with defense investigator Scott Ross, May 6, 2005, in Santa Maria, Calif. Barnes, who is from Melbourne, Australia, told the court she and her family got to know Michael Jackson after her son wrote him a letter. She said she allowed her son to travel around the world with Jackson on a tour because she believed it would be a learning experience. "I trusted him implicitly," she said of Jackson. "He's a very nice person. You just know when you can trust someone."

The Sister

Defense witness Karlee Barnes leaves the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, May 6, 2005, in Santa Maria, Calif. Barnes testified that Michael Jackson had flown her and her family from Australia to testify at the trial, and they were staying at Neverland. Her brother, Brett Barnes, testified a day earlier that nothing improper happened when he shared Jackson's bed.

Neverland Guest

Defense witness Wade Robson arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria, Calif., May 5, 2005. A dancer and film director, Robson said he repeatedly slept in Michael Jackson's bedroom without incident as a boy and denied allegations that he took a shower with the singer.

Defense witness Joy Robson arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, May 6, 2005, in Santa Maria, Calif. Robson, whose son, Wade, stayed at Neverland more than 20 times, praised Michael Jackson, but was highly critical of another Neverland guest: the mother of the singer's 1993 accuser. Robson called her a "gold-digger" who seemed to want to be "mistress of Neverland." On cross-examination, she denied that the friendship was based on the thought Jackson might help her son succeed in show business.

Neverland Guest

Defense witness Chantal Robson leaves the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, May 6, 2005, in Santa Maria, Calif. She testified that she shared a bed with Michael Jackson and her brother at the Neverland ranch when she was 10 and that nothing sexual or inappropriate happened.

Macaulay Culkin

Defense witness Macaulay Culkin arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria, Calif., May 11, 2005. On the stand, he denied previous witness testimony that he was molested, saying the accusations against the pop star were "absolutely ridiculous." The 24-year-old actor said he met Jackson when he was 9 or 10 years old and has remained friends since.

Click here for a gallery of prosecution witnesses.

Azja Pryor

Defense witness Azja Pryor arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, May 19, 2005, in Santa Maria, Calif. Pryor, a casting assistant who has a child with Jackson friend Chris Tucker, said the accuser's mother complained to her in early March 2003 that two associates of Jackson had stepped in to keep her family away from the singer. Her testimony was key for the defense, as the prosecution claims the alleged abuse took place between Feb. 20 and March 12, 2003.

Larry King

CNN talk show host Larry King is scanned with a metal detector as he passes through a security checkpoint at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria, Calif., May 19, 2005. The defense wanted to present testimony by King that attorney Larry Feldman, who once represented the accuser's mother, had told him the mother was "wacko" and out for money. But the judge refused to allow King as a witness, and while the talk show host was in court, he left without taking the stand.

Jay Leno

"Tonight Show" host Jay Leno arrives at the courthouse in Santa Maria, Calif., May 24, 2005. Jackson's defense called Leno to support its claim that the boy's family schemed to get money from celebrities. He testified that the accuser was "overly effusive" and sounded suspicious in phone calls to him - but never asked for money, and none was sent.

Leno said the boy called him his hero, and he thought it was strange that a young boy would be such a fan of a comedian who is in his 50s. "I'm not Batman. It seemed a little unusual," Leno said.

Chris Tucker

Actor Chris Tucker departs the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, May 24, 2005, in Santa Maria, Calif. Tucker testified that he met the accuser after the boy's father introduced himself at a comedy club and asked him to take part in a benefit. He said that a few days after the benefit, the boy told him it hadn't made any money, so Tucker wired "probably $1,500 or more" to a foundation for the family.

The defense said Tucker would be their final witness, which meant Jackson would not be taking the stand during the trial.