Jackson leaves court after acquittal
Michael Jackson has left the Santa Maria courthouse after a jury acquitted him tonight of molesting 13-year-old cancer survivor Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland ranch, vindicating the pop star who insisted he was the victim of mother-and-son con artists and a prosecutor with a vendetta.
Jurors also acquitted him of conspiring to imprison his accuser and the boy’s family at the storybook estate – a total legal victory but one that may do little to improve his bizarre image.
The jury also acquitted Jackson innocent of getting Gavin Arvizo drunk before molesting him and conspiring to imprison the boy and his family at his Neverland ranch.
Jackson looked straight ahead as the verdicts were read and showed no visible reaction as he was repeatedly found not guilty.
Outside the courthouse, the crowd erupted in cheers as the verdict was read.
A woman in the crowd released one white dove each time an acquittal was read.
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