SAN FRANCISCO — One of the five charges in Barry Bonds’ perjury trial has been dropped and the defense has rested without calling a single witness.

Bonds’ attorney Allen Ruby announced the move this morning.

Declining to call a witness underscored the defense’s belief prosecutors have failed to prove that the all-time major league home runs leader lied to a federal grand jury by saying he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs. It also means Bonds will not take the witness stand.

“The defense rests,” Ruby told the eight-women, four-man jury before U.S. District Judge Susan Illston released them for the day.

The panel was ordered to return Thursday to begin deliberating after hearing closing arguments and the judge’s instructions on how to consider the evidence submitted during the 11-day trial.

Illston began the session by tossing out one of the charges pending against Bonds. Prosecutors asked for the dismissal after Illston made it clear she was planning to throw it out anyway.