History Today: When Michael Jackson was acquitted in child molestation trial

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13-06-2025

Pop superstar Michael Jackson, who had been accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy, was acquitted of all felony charges on June 13, 2005. Though he was legally vindicated, the trial took a heavy toll on his health, finances and public image. On this day in 1971, The New York Times began publishing excerpts of the Pentagon Papers read more
Michael Jackson arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his child molestation trial in Santa Maria, Calif., May 25, 2005.
Superstar Michael Jackson was not just a person but a phenomenon.
Often dubbed the 'King of Pop', he was one of the most famous musicians and performers of the 20th Century.
However, he was in the spotlight for more than just his music.
Unfortunately, this wasn't always a good thing – Jackson was accused of child molestation.
Then, after months of a high-profile trial, he was acquitted him of all charges on June 13, 2005.
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If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
On this day in 1944, Nazi Germany unleashed a terrifying new weapon upon London - the V-1 flying bomb, just a few days after D-Day landings.
The New York Times began publishing excerpts from a highly classified government study, which later came to be known as the 'Pentagon Papers.'
Here are the major event that took place on this day across the world.
Michael Jackson acquitted in molestation trial
One of the most famous musicians of all time Jackson , was acquitted on all counts in his highly publicised child molestation trial on June 13, 2005.
Jackson had faced ten felony counts including four counts of molesting a minor, four counts of administering an intoxicating agent to a minor for the purpose of molestation, one count of attempted child molestation and one count of conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.
The case had been filed by then-13-year-old Gavin Arvizo, who claimed Jackson had molested him at his Neverland Ranch estate .
Michael Jackson arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his child molestation trial in Santa Maria. File image/AP
Throughout the trial, prosecutors painted a picture of Jackson as a predator, while the defence, led by attorney Thomas Mesereau, vigorously argued that the accuser's family was attempting to extort money from the singer. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in the testimonies of key prosecution witnesses and presented their own witnesses, including celebrities like Macaulay Culkin.
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The jury, composed of eight women and four men, deliberated for over 30 hours before delivering a unanimous verdict of not guilty on all counts. The decision prompted an emotional response from Jackson, who broke into tears as the verdicts were read.
Though he was legally vindicated, the trial had taken a heavy toll on his health, finances, and public image.
Jackson largely withdrew from the public eye in the years following, living abroad for a time and releasing limited new work.
Nazi Germany launches the V-1 Flying Bomb
Just a week after the D-Day landings, Nazi Germany unleashed a new terror on the Allied Forces, especially London, by launching the V-1 flying bomb. Officially known as the Fieseler Fi 103, it was the world's first operational cruise missile.
Despite Allied air superiority over Western Europe, the German Luftwaffe utilized the Fi 103, launched from bases in northern France, the Netherlands, and western Germany, to bombard targets in Belgium, England and France.
Termed as the 'buzz bomb' or 'doodlebug', these small, pilotless aircraft had a distinctive sound with a small and noisy pulsejet engine. Carrying an 850 kilo high-explosive warhead, it was designed to fly a predetermined distance before its engine cut out, sending it into a steep, silent dive towards its target. This sudden silence was often as terrifying as the preceding buzz, as it signalled an imminent impact.
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Fieseler Fi 103 V-1 flying bomb on a Walter catapult ramp at Éperlecque in Northern France. File image/Wikimedia Commons
The first V-1 struck London, landing in the Bow area and killing eight people. It was the start of a campaign that would see over 9,000 V-1s launched in Britain, primarily targeting London and southern England. The weapon was a pilotless, jet-propelled bomb capable of flying at 400 kilometres per hour and carrying an 850 kilo warhead. With a range of about 250 kilometres, it was typically launched from hidden sites in northern France and the Netherlands.
Despite the terror they inflicted, the V-1 attacks ultimately failed to break British morale or alter the course of the war. Allied countermeasures, including anti-aircraft guns, barrage balloons, and fighter aircraft, became increasingly effective at intercepting the bombs.
NYT publishes Pentagon Papers
One of the most confidential and controversial documents was published by The New York Times on this day in 1971.
The Times began publishing excerpts from the government papers which exposed the US' political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1968. It revealed that several presidential administrations had systematically misled the American public about the extent and true nature of the Vietnam War.
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Officially titled 'History of US Decision-Making Process on Vietnam Policy', The 7,000-page report was commissioned by Secretary of Defense Robert S McNamara in 1967. Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst who had worked on the study and subsequently became an anti-war activist, secretly photocopied portions of the document and provided them to Neil Sheehan, a reporter for The New York Times.
The Nixon administration tried to stop The New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers, citing national security concerns. This led to the landmark First Amendment case, _New York Times Co. v. United State_s.
On June 30, 1971, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 for the newspapers, affirming press freedom.
This Day, That Year
Donald Trump became the first former US president to be charged with federal crimes on this day in 2023.
In 2000, the leaders of North and South Korea met for the first time.
The first African-American was nominated to the US Supreme Court on this day in 1967.