The California jury completely acquitted the king of pop on all counts in the twisting and turning child molestation trial that took months and started and ended as a media circus.
Michael Jackson entered the courtroom at around 4:45 pm EST. The jury informed the court earlier this afternoon they’d reached a verdict. This makes day 7 for the jurors, who deliberated over a trial that took months.
Crowds surrounding the courthouse were both elated and angry after the verdict was announced. In any event, much of the media circus is yet to come as talk shows for days will analyze the verdict.
The child molestation trial against Jacko has dominated headlines for months now as Jackson faced 10 charges including extortion, abduction and extortion. Child molestation charges surfaced in the past but never made it to trial. Jackson settled with the families involved. Convictions on all counts could carry penalties of 20 years in prison.
The charges claim Jackson molested a 13-year-old, tempting him with pornographic magazines, giving him alcoholic beverages and even threatening the boy’s family and abduction. The prosecution went after Jackson, maintaining the latest charges represent a pattern of behavior Jackson has maintained for years.
Testimony came from a number of former Jackson employees but the defense team went after all them, saying they’d had problems with Jackson as an employer and held a grudge. Some of them even received settlement from Jackson.
The ammunition for the prosecution came back in 2003 during a program called “Living with Michael Jackson”. Jackson discussed his innocent sleepovers with young boys while holding hands with his accuser. During the trial, a number of individuals, even those testifying for Jackson said they’d had sleepover and spent the night in the Jackson’s bed with Jackson.
John Stith is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.
