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Jackson acquitted on all counts
13/06/2005 23:19 - (SA)
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| Michael Jackson waves to fans as he arrives at the Santa Barbara county courthouse to heard the verdict in his child-sex trial. (Michael Mariant, AP) |
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Santa Maria - Superstar Michael Jackson was acquitted on Monday of all 10 charges in his child molestation trial, including four counts of lewd conduct against a 13-year-old boy.
Jurors in Santa Maria, California also acquitted the 46-year-old father of three on one count of conspiracy, one count of attempted molestation and four counts of plying his accuser with alcohol.
Outside the courtroom, hundreds of Jackson fans, listening to the verdicts via an audio-feed, cheered and applauded as the decisions were read out by the court clerk.
The jury, eight men and four men, deliberated for more than 30 hours before reaching their verdicts, following a trial that began nearly four and a half month ago.
- AFP
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