Michael Jackson targeted vulnerable young boys who were drawn into a "world of the forbidden" as they entered the singer's bedroom at night, his child molestation trial heard today.
Prosecutor Ron Zonen said Jackson followed a "grooming process" with accuser, Gavin Arvizo, and his younger brother, luring them into his grasp with sweets, video games and entertainment and separating them from their parents.
In his closing statement to the jury of eight women and four men he said once in Jackson 's room the two young boys learned about human sexuality "from someone who is only too willing to be their teacher."
He added: "At night they entered into the world of the forbidden. They went into Michael Jackson 's room, which is a veritable fortress."
He claimed the singer used pornography to lower the boys' inhibitions as well as appearing naked before them and simulating a sex act with a mannequin.
Mr Zonen pulled no punches as he launched a strong, wide-ranging attack on the defence's case, focusing largely on opening statements and Gavin Arvizo's mother, Janet, whose evidence was pivotal to both sides.
Jackson
"This case is about the exploitation and sexual abuse of a 13-year-old cancer survivor by an international celebrity," Mr Zonen told Santa Maria court in California.
Reading from Mr Mesereau's opening statement, in which the lawyer said: "I think an opening statement is a contract," Mr Zonen proceeded to list a series of inconsistencies and said the time had come to make their judgement.
The prosecutor stressed Mrs Arvizo had never asked anyone for money. Not a single celebrity she was accused of courting for money had come forward and said as much, he said, including Mike Tyson, Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey.
"Did you see any of them come in here?" Mr Zonen asked. "There's no evidence she received anything from the three of them."
The only mistake Janet Arvizo had ever made was to under report income on a welfare application when she had separated from her husband and had three children to care for, he claimed.
Jurors were told not to read anything into Jackson 's lengthy telephone conversations with Gavin when he was in hospital being treated for cancer. "He did that with all the boys who ended up in his room," the prosecutor said.
Both sides have been given four hours each to present their closing statements as the trial draws to a close. The jury has been told it should begin deliberations tomorrow.
The former child star who later carved out a career as one of the best-selling artists in pop music history faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted of the ten counts against him.
He denies four counts of committing a lewd act on a child, one count of conspiracy involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion, one count of attempting to commit a lewd act on a child and four counts of administering alcohol for the purpose of committing child molestation.
Judge Rodney Melville has told jurors they may consider a lesser charge on the alcohol counts and did not have to relate it to the act of molestation. The trial continues.
's lawyer, Tom Mesereau, had failed to keep promises made to the jury, he claimed, and his defence was "entirely limited" to attacks on Mrs Arvizo.