Michael Jackson's fate hangs in the balance

Michael Jackson’s fate was left hanging in the balance this weekend as the jury ended its sixth day of deliberations without reaching a verdict in his child sex abuse case.

It was a tense week in Santa Maria, California, despite a lack of news from the jury room. There were plenty of false alarms, and enough speculation to keep hundreds journalists, fans and analysts on their toes.

Jackson’s late night visit to a local hospital on Wednesday triggered a flurry of activity, although his spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, insisted it was a scheduled appointment for “basic, routine back treatment.”

It was the singer’s fifth such hospital visit since the trial began.

Ms Bain, along with civil rights campaigner Rev Jesse Jackson, held several impromptu press conferences at the court, both claiming Jackson was in good spirits and confident of acquittal.

It was such appearances which apparently prompted Jackson’s lawyer, Tom Mesereau, to release a statement warning he had not authorised anyone to speak on behalf of Jackson or his family. Neither were spotted again.

The singer’s father, Joe Jackson, sparked a commotion when he suddenly appeared at court at the beginning of the week demanding to see his son.

Around 100 fans rushed through the gates, mobbing him as he made his way to the back of the courthouse and tangling with the media before being ushered back behind the barriers.

Jackson was in fact some 40 miles away at his Neverland ranch, where he spent the week waiting for news with his family.

Outside the gates fans kept a constant vigil. Paper hearts and doves hang from the trees and a “chain of love” bearing messages from all over the world is tacked onto a fence and stretches into the distance.

As supporters continued to chant, pray and sing outside the court, legal analysts became sought after property, happy to bide time by discussing the potential verdict.

“I really didn’t think they’d come back any earlier than this,” said former Santa Barbara County prosecutor Craig Smith.

“Certainly if they came back earlier in the week it would have been a good sign for the defence but to come back at this point I think it’s more probable that its going to be guilty on at least one of the counts.”

As the jury of eight women and four men boarded two white vans and headed for home this weekend, disappointed journalists packed up their tents and fans sloped off lugging their banners behind them.

It will be a quiet weekend in Santa Maria but when the circus resumes on Monday the stakes will be raised Jackson will surely be back at court before the week is out.