Michael Jackson,
on trial for child molestation, walked out of the courtroom Monday, a free
but badly tarnished, man. Jackson has been acquitted of all 10 counts,
after two ballots were taken by the jury.
The 15-year-old
former cancer patient who accused Jackson "was brought up in an environment
where he was taught to lie," said the foreman, identified in an interview
with CNN last night as Paul Rodriguez.
According to Thomas
Mesereau Jr., Jackson's attorney, Jackson will not continue his practice
of having sleep overs at his Neverland Ranch.
Hundreds of Jackson's
fans have showed their support for the "King of Pop" by attending the court
proceedings and holding vigils at the gates to Jackson's Neverland Ranch.
It will be a matter of time to determine if Jackson's reputation and popularity
will suffer due to the recent court case.