Jacko's accuser: 'the system failed'

Michael Jackson's teenage accuser has broken his silence to criticise the American justice system for failing him.

Gavin Arvizo, 15, said his trust had been violated by Jackson as he fought cancer.

He said he feared the outcome of the trial would deter other alleged child sex victims from going to authorities.

In a statement released by the Arvizos, who have gone into hiding since the verdict, the family said they now wanted to be left alone.

It said: "A young 10-year-old boy, struggling for his very life during a battle with cancer, put his trust and confidence in Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson violated that trust.

"At the risk of great and personal humiliation he placed that same trust and confidence in the criminal justice system.

"He believes that, as in many criminal cases involving celebrities, the criminal justice system has let him down.

" Unfortunately the ordeal and trauma suffered by him may deter other victims of crimes from having the courage to bring such crime to the attention of the authorities."

The statement also said that Arvizo was grateful to those people who had supported him and asked that his privacy be respected as he fights to get on with his life.

Jackson, 46, was cleared on all charges in his child molestation case last Monday at the end of the 14-week trial in California.

It is not clear if Arvizo will attempt to pursue the singer in a civil case.