Michael Jackson's defense nears end
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 Jay Leno is among the celebrities expected to testify this week.
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SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's defense attorneys may finish presenting their case to a jury this week as the singer's child molestation trial hurtles toward the finish line.
Prosecutors said at the end of last week they had been informed by Jackson's defense team that its case would conclude Tuesday, which would be the 57th day of testimony. The defense was circumspect on when it would rest, although defense attorney Robert Sanger said he had "pared down its witness list," which originally had 366 names.
The conclusion of the testimony phase of Jackson's trial was spurred by a series of rulings by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville. Last week Melville torpedoed testimony by CNN talk show host Larry King. (Full story)
Melville also turned down a bid to let the defense call two J.C. Penney security guards who were involved in an altercation with the family of Jackson's accuser in 1998, which led to a civil lawsuit.
And the judge said Jackson associate Vinne Amen, named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case, would not get immunity so he could testify for the defense.
But the ruling that may have most truncated the defense case came last Wednesday, when Melville required defense attorneys to demonstrate why character witnesses were necessary, on a case-by-case basis. (Ruling may limit celebrity testimony)
In his ruling, Melville said prosecutors would be allowed to present testimony countering testimonials to Jackson's good character if the defense offered them.
Jackson's attorneys had presented a lengthy list of celebrities they wanted to testify on the pop star's behalf, many whom had little apparent connection to the case. Among the names are Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Barry Gibb and Deepak Chopra. (Jackson defense looks to stars)
In a court filing, prosecutors outlined some of the character rebuttal testimony they wanted to present, including evidence about other young boys purportedly molested by Jackson, excluded earlier in the trial, and a 2002 incident where Jackson dangled his own son, Prince Michael II, from a Berlin, Germany, balcony.
Another piece of evidence the prosecution wanted to present was a television interview Jackson's sister, LaToya, gave in which she said she saw a payment of $1 million made to the family of a boy "for purposes of buying silence," according to a prosecution motion.
LaToya Jackson has since recanted the public doubts she expressed about her brother and has been supporting him during his current criminal case, even making an appearance at the Santa Maria courthouse during the trial.
Melville also decided he would let stand a limited waiver of Jackson's attorney-client privilege with his former attorney, Mark Geragos, clearing the way for him to complete his testimony. (Full story)
However, the judge said he would consider slapping sanctions on lead defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. for the way he went about putting the waiver into place.
Jackson, 46, was indicted last year by a state grand jury on 10 felony counts for incidents that allegedly occurred in February and March 2003.
The charges include four counts of committing a lewd act on a child; one count of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion; one count of attempting to commit a lewd act on a child; and four counts of administering an intoxicating agent to assist in the commission of a felony.
Jackson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
