Jackson Found Not Guilty

Michael Jackson, one of the world's biggest pop stars, was acquitted yesterday on all charges of molesting a teenage boy at his Neverland ranch. The 46-year-old singer, who faced up to 18 years in prison had he been found guilty, reached for a tissue and wept as the clerk of the court finished reading the not guilty verdicts.

In a packed courtroom in the small town of Santa Maria, north of Los Angeles, the clerk began reading the verdicts at 2.12pm. As they were read, the prosecution slumped back in their chairs.

Jackson left the 20-minute session to be greeted by screams and cheers from 100 fans outside the court.

Accompanied by his family and holding his mother's arm, he got into a waiting black SUV and left the court. He acknowledged the fans by blowing a kiss but there was no repeat of the grandstanding that accompanied some of his previous court appearances.

Inside the courtroom the verdict was greeted with gasps and tears of relief from the public gallery as the 40 fans allowed inside took in the implications. Some of the women jurors wept as the verdicts were read out.

Jackson, dressed in a black suit, white shirt and black tie sat immobile, as he had been throughout most of the trial.

After the verdicts Jackson's attorney, Thomas Mesereau, gripped the singer's forearm. Once the jury had left the court, the judge said: "Mr Jackson your bail is exonerated and you are released."

Jackson embraced each member of his defence team and then stood alone in the court, looking bewildered and saying nothing. When asked his reaction, Mr Mesereau said: "Justice was done."

The judge also read out a statement from the jury: "We the jury, feeling the weight of the world's eyes upon us, all thoroughly and meticulously studied the testimony, evidence and rules of procedure presented in this court since Jan. 31, 2005.

"Following the jury instructions, we confidently came to our verdicts. It is our hope that this case is a testament to the belief in our justice system's integrity and the truth. We would like the public to allow us to return to our private lives as anonymously as we came."

In a statement last night Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe said: "I would never have married a paedophile. And the system works."

The jury sent word that they had reached a verdict on the 10-count indictment at around 12.30pm, 8.30pm in Britain. The eight women and four men had deliberated for seven days after listening to 14 weeks of testimony.

The singer, who had been awaiting the verdict at his Neverland ranch, was given a little over one hour to make his way to the courthouse.

Jackson looked apprehensive as he made his way into the court. He was flanked by members of his family, including sisters Janet and LaToya Jackson.

Due to intense media interest, the judge allowed an audio feed of the verdict to be read out, which was subsequently broadcast across the world.

The extraordinary course of events that led to the eventual acquittal of one of the world's biggest stars began when Jackson was arrested on charges of child molestation in November 2003.

The charges arose from a British television documentary, Living with Michael Jackson, broadcast in February 2003. In the documentary, Jackson was shown holding hands with the then 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. He also defended sharing his bedroom with children, describing it as an innocent, childlike practice. "What could be more natural?" he asked his interviewer, Martin Bashir. However, he denied that he shared his bed with the children, saying that he would sleep on the floor.

In January 2004, Jackson appeared at the Santa Maria courthouse for his arraignment.

Three months later, at a subsequent hearing, the details of the allegations facing the singer were revealed for the first time when the charges were read out.

After a two-week jury selection process, which saw Jackson make the first of the many hospital visits that were to punctuate the trial, testimony began on February 28.

The 10 charges

1 Conspiracy involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion, including 28 specific acts between February 1 and March 31 2003

Not guilty

2-5 Lewd act upon a child under the age of 14, between February 20 and March 12 2003

Not guilty

6 Attempt to get a child under age 14 to commit a lewd act upon Jackson between February 20 and March 12 2003

Not guilty

7-10 Administering an intoxicating agent - alcohol - to assist in the commission of child molestation

Not guilty