From its main actors to its bit players to its overarching themes, a central motif runs through Michael Jackson's child molestation trial -- and it isn't sex.

"Money in this case is huge. Its money, money, and more money," lawyer Anne Bremner, who has been following the trial, said yesterday. "It seems like everyone has their hand out."

Jackson is on trial for allegedly fondling a 13-year-old boy two years ago, plying him with alcohol and holding him and his family against their will, a charge which the prosecution links to his failing fortunes.

The pop icon's handlers were so worried, the argument goes, they panicked after a television documentary showed him holding his future accuser's hand and admitting that children often share his bed.

As his long-time publicist said in court this week: "perception is 90 per cent of what the public thinks."

So Jackson aides moved to sequester the family to force them to make a rebuttal video, aiming to prevent further erosion of the pop star's empire.

The defence, meanwhile, maintains that the allegations by the accuser's family are driven by the mother's rapacious greed.

She has a history of using her children to bilk celebrities, lead defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau argued in opening arguments six weeks ago. Past targets include Hollywood superstar Jim Carrey, boxer Mike Tyson and US comedian Adam Sandler, he said.