Jackson scores sensational win at child sex abuse trial

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2005

SANTA MARIA, United States (AFP) — A jury cleared pop star Michael Jackson of child sex abuse and other charges that could have seen him jailed for more than 18 years at the end of a sensational 14 week trial.

Prosecutors had sought to portray the 46-year-old King of Pop as a sexual predator of boys but Jackson's defence had insisted throughout that the accuser's mother was an extortionist who had trained her children to lie.

But the jury, after seven days of deliberations, rejected all of the accusations against Jackson giving the star a stunning victory over his main prosecutor, Tom Sneddon, who has been pursuing Jackson for the past decade.

Jackson shed tears as each not guilty verdict was read out by the jury forewoman. Afterwards he walked out of the...