After a grueling legal battle, Gary the Goat has been cleared by an Australian court of the vandalism charges levied against him.
Gary, who is owned by comedian James Dezarnaulds, was slapped with a AUS $440 ($464 USD) fine in August after allegedly munching on flowers outside Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art.
He arrived at court on Wednesday dressed to face his accusers in a splendid multicolor hat and armed with his own personal lawyer.
Local news sources reported that although Gary was not allowed inside the courtroom to bleat not guilty, magistrate Carolyn Barkell found in his favor.
She ruled that Gary had been eating the plants when police arrived, but said there was no evidence Mr. Dezarnaulds had brought him there with the intention of vandalizing vegetation.
Gary's lawyer, Paul McGirr, told the court that police had issued the wrong infringement notice, because it related to a person and not a goat.
He also said it couldn't be proved that Mr Bazoobi put Gary up to the act.
"We can't guess what Gary might have been whispered in his goat ear," he said.
The news of Gary's acquittal has come as a relief to his 10,000 Facebook fans, many of whom have been writing messages of support on his wall.
He will now be free to pursue his comedic career as Mr. Dezernaul's sidekick.
The pair travel around Australia performing comedy shows under the pseudonym Jimbo Bazoobi.
Speaking outside the courtroom, owner Mr Dezarnaul said the case serves as a lesson to overzealous authorities.
"Gary's name has been cleared of all this slander," he said.
"Gary the goat taught the cops a valuable lesson today: don't bite off more than you can chew."
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