SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) -- Jurors returned to court Wednesday for more deliberations on the child molestation case against pop star Michael Jackson.
The jury had already spent about two and a third days in talks since getting the case late last week.
The scene around the courthouse, where many fans and reporters have gathered, was low key compared to Monday, when the unexpected appearance of the defendant's father sent the crowd surging.
The only famous face to visit the courthouse Tuesday was the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who said Jackson was optimistic as he awaited the jury's decision.
"Through all of this Michael remains amazingly optimistic - A, declaring his own innocence, B, declaring his confidence in the jury," said Rev. Jackson, who has spoken and prayed with the singer throughout his trial.
Jurors deliberated for about two hours on Friday and then talked for a full day Monday and Tuesday. The panel meets daily from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PDT with three 10-minute breaks.
The 46-year-old singer is charged with molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor in 2003, giving the boy alcohol and conspiring to hold his family captive to get them to rebut a documentary in which Jackson appeared with the boy and said he let children into his bed but it was nonsexual.
Rev. Jackson was asked why he came to the courthouse during deliberations.
"If Michael's friends did not stand up for him in a public way, you would ask, 'Where are they?'" he said.
He also said that rumors have continued to swirl about Jackson's health and he wanted to reassure everyone that "he is resting comfortably" in spite of great back pain.
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