Poll: Almost half disagree with Jackson verdict
(CNN) -- Almost half of Americans polled Monday evening disagreed with the jury's decision to acquit Michael Jackson on all 10 counts in his child molestation and conspiracy trial, according to a CNN/USA/Gallup poll.
In the survey, 48 percent of respondents said they disagreed with the verdict, while 34 percent said they agreed with the decision.
More than six out of 10 respondents, or 62 percent, said that Jackson's celebrity status was a major factor in the case, 17 percent said it was a minor factor and 18 percent said it was not a factor.
The poll of 635 Americans had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. It was conducted between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET, beginning about an hour after the verdict was announced.
Almost half of the respondents, 47 percent, said they were surprised by the verdict, while 52 percent said they were not surprised.
When asked if they were outraged by the verdict, 24 percent said yes and 73 percent said no. A similar number, 27 percent , said they were pleased by the decision compared to 67 percent who said no.
Thirty-four percent said they were saddened by the verdict, while 62 percent said they were not saddened.
Only a quarter of respondents said they were fans of Jackson. Half said they were never fans and 22 percent said they were fans before the charges of misconduct surfaced.
