Jackson leaves court after acquittal

Michael Jackson has left the Santa Maria courthouse after a jury acquitted him tonight of molesting 13-year-old cancer survivor Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland ranch, vindicating the pop star who insisted he was the victim of mother-and-son con artists and a prosecutor with a vendetta.

Jurors also acquitted him of conspiring to imprison his accuser and the boy’s family at the storybook estate – a total legal victory but one that may do little to improve his bizarre image.