Jackson Final Arguments 'Critical'

Many legal experts predict that the closing arguments in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial are where the case could be won or lost.

Those arguments could begin as soon as Wednesday.

Experts agree the stakes were raised considerably when jurors saw a videotape Friday of Jackson's accuser emotionally describing the alleged molestation to police.

Despite a mountain of evidence and testimony from 140 witnesses, closing arguments will be "absolutely critical," former federal prosecutor Laurie Levenson tells CBS News Correspondent Vince Gonzales, "especially in a case like this, where its been going on for several months. And the lawyers have to take all that evidence and put it together for the jury in a convincing way."

Court TV's Savannah Guthrie, who's been in court since the start of the trial, agrees.

She tells The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler, "That video was so convincing and so compelling, I think those 12 jurors are going to have a very difficult time deciding this case, and really, there's not any result here that would surprise me, whether it be guilty, not guilty, or a hung jury."

Guthries explains that, "Everybody who was in the courtroom or listening to it really had that impression that this was one piece of powerful evidence for the prosecutors to end on. The boy came across as reluctant to tell this story. It's the defense theory that the mother coached the kid to lie. But on the tape, it's as though the police have to extract details out of him. He seems reluctant to tell it. He's not blurting it out. He comes across as very genuine, very believable."

In light of that tape, what does Jackson attorney Tom Mesereau have to do?

"Argue the evidence," Guthrie suggests. "They put on a pretty compelling defense case. They have a lot of other evidence that suggests this is a family that has made up false allegations in the past, and I think he just needs to tell jurors, 'Look at this family, look hard at them. Are they credible. Can you believe them? If they've done it before, don't you think they could do it again with Michael Jackson?' "

And what's the task at hand for the prosecution?

"They need to argue the facts, tell the jurors they can believe this witness. …'You see the boy on the videotape. It does not seem like a coached or rehearsed performance. If this boy is acting, then he is an Oscar-caliber actor.'"