: CHICAGO (AP) — Prosecutors played the sex tape at the center of R. Kelly's child pornography trial in open court Tuesday, just hours after opening statements in which they accused the R&B singer of choreographing and starring in a video featuring "vile, disturbing and disgusting sex acts" with an underage girl.
The jurors, who took feverish notes during opening statements, sat motionless while the video played. Their eyes fixed on a 4-by-4-foot monitor just outside the jury box. In the courtroom, the lights were dimmed and blinds drawn across windows. There were several other monitors in the room, including one facing the crowded gallery.
A grim, intent Kelly watched the whole video on a small monitor placed on the defense table, only occasionally averting his eyes. At times, the 41-year-old rocked in his chair or rested his chin in his hand.
Before putting the tape into a videocassette player, a prosecutor walked across the stately courtroom, held it out for the defense team to see and entered it into the record as "People's Exhibit No. 1."
The roughly 27-minute homemade video shows a man having sex with a young female, who is naked for most of the recording — except for a necklace with a cross dangling from it.
At the start of the videotape, the man hands the female money and she mouths the words, "Thank you." She is often blank-faced, impassive. The man speaks to the female in a hushed, monotone voice, and she calls him "Daddy."
Songs from the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys blare from a radio. The female dances — the man out of view. Back in view, he has sex with her. The man walks up to the camera to adjust it a few times, but his face is often obscured.
As she dances, the female urinates on the floor. Near the end of the video, the man urinates on the female.
Prosecutors say the man in the video is Kelly, and that the female is a girl who was as young as 13 years old when the tape was made between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1, 2000.
The singer, who has pleaded not guilty, faces up to 15 years if convicted.
During opening statements in the long-delayed trial, Cook County prosecutor Shauna Boliker warned jurors they would have to watch shocking video and that "the case will unfold before you frame by disgusting frame."
"You will see the sex acts he commands her to do," said Boliker, who referred to Kelly by his birth name of Robert Kelly. "Acts you have never seen before. Vile, disturbing and disgusting sex acts, actions that were choreographed, produced and starred in by Robert Kelly."
Kelly often looked strained, even worried during opening statements, his mouth drawn tight as he hunched forward on a leather-backed chair — frequently appearing to study jurors' faces.
Minutes after Boliker concluded, defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. paced the room and often raised his voice in his opening statements, telling jurors with emphasis that Kelly was not the man on the tape. He also called the video's origins into question and said the female who authorities allege is depicted on the tape is not that person at all.
"You know what they have to connect Mr. Kelly to this tape?" he asked the jurors, pausing. "Nothing."
The 23-year-old woman prosecutors say was a minor at the time of the taping also denies that she's the person on the video.
The trial has been delayed repeatedly since the tape was mailed to the Chicago Sun-Times in 2002. The newspaper turned it over to authorities, and Kelly was indicted later that year.
Boliker alleged the singer took advantage of the inherent trust children place in adults, and the female on the tape performed acts that Kelly "commanded" her to perform.
Boliker told jurors the state will not call the alleged victim to the stand, but she did not explain why.
Adam addressed that issue forcefully as he faced jurors during his opening statement, asking them why prosecutors wouldn't call the female as a witness.
"One answer," he said. "One: It's not her on that tape."
Adam also tried to raise questions about the tape itself, saying no one knows where it originated before it showed up at the Sun-Times. The videotape in evidence, he said, is "at best a copy of a copy of a copy." He also said the FBI, which compiled a report on the tape, could not identify the man in it as Kelly.
Adam did make it clear what he wanted jurors doing when they watched videotape: Looking for a mole on the man's back.
The defense displayed a photo of Kelly's back with a mole smaller than the size of a dime. Adam said jurors wouldn't find the mole on the back of the man in the videotape.
"There is no mole on his back," Adam said. "Robert isn't that man on the tape."
Adam also told jurors the female that prosecutors claim is depicted on the video "is not a victim because she is not the girl on that tape." Instead, he suggested the woman in the video is a "professional prostitute" because the man in the video hands her money.
Kelly, with an entourage in tow, arrived at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse about 90 minutes before opening statements were to begin. He wore a navy pinstriped suit and blue and orange striped tie, and his hair was in corn rows.
When he stepped into the hall during a short recess Tuesday, several teenage girls shrieked in delight at the sight of the award-winning singer.
Kelly won a Grammy in 1997 for the gospel-tinged "I Believe I Can Fly," and is also known for such songs as "Bump N' Grind," "Ignition," and "Trapped in the Closet," a multipart saga about the sexual secrets of a lively and ever-expanding cast of characters.
Also Tuesday, jurors heard from retired Chicago police investigator Dan Everett, who said he and his partner were sent to the Sun-Times building in February 2002 after a reporter received a VHS videotape the newspaper wanted to turn over to police.
Everett told jurors what he and his partner witnessed on the sex tape, but he also testified that he knew the female depicted in it was an underage girl because he had interviewed her as part of an earlier investigation.
At that point, Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan called a sidebar outside the jury's presence and threatened to declare a mistrial because Everett had been instructed not to use the word "investigation."
Everett did not say what the previous investigation involved.
Gaughan scolded Everett, saying he'd made an egregious mistake that violated the judge's court order and said he would declare a mistrial if the word was used again in reference to the earlier interview.
Everett told the jury when it returned that he had interviewed the young female on Dec. 5, 2000, 14 months before he began investigating the videotape.
Jury selection finished last week with prosecutors and defense attorneys accusing each other of trying to stack the panel along racial lines. Eight of the seated jurors were white and four were black, and that remained the jury's racial makeup after a white female juror was replaced Tuesday morning by one of four alternates, a white male.
It does look like him.He did get wit the late great AAliyah.MTO posted a story on Kells some months back on him getting with a former associates underaged daughter.And i think he was rockin some kind of necklace with a girl or something relating to one.I think your done homie.Mole or no mole.But money talks...*** walks.WOW!
I saw the tape back in like 03! The one i saw, it was 3 different scenes! 1st one: He wuz just getting head! 2nd one: He was tossing this girl's salad like it was no tomorrow in what looked like a barber chair! Chris Rock talks about it in his "Neva Scared" comedy joint & he had tp2.com playing in da background! 3rd scene: This is the 1 when he pees on & has *** with the underaged girl! I seen a different girl in each scene! Its somewhat obscure but its him!! I cant see how he denies its him! first 2 scenes he has his fro out & the last one he was bald!! This is on video unlike Mike Jackson & whoever else!! If he gets off I swear.......
I used to be an R. Kelly supporter, but after seeing what he did. He deserves to be locked up & *** on. He was in a position to make a difference in people life & this is what he uses his gift for. There are so many men doing this & its wrong. He needs to be made an example of. Then these perverts will think twice.
Tina Knowles...its ruff finding that tape cause they started locking folks up for child pornography who sold it.
And sorry to tell some of you who keep saying he's innocent, but its been known in Chicago at least 15 years that R Kelly been messing with young girls. They just finally had the evidence to lock him up. Stop saying its the man for our people doing dumb sh**. Also the family members aren't just saying it's her in the video cause they like going to court. He's wrong for messing with his publicist daughter too. He can't help himself.
Why wont MTO talk about the Kevin Hunter (wendy williams hubby) *** tape???!!! I viewed it last ***. It does not look like Kevin to me, the guy looks similar but not quite. Kevin has some major tattoing on his arm and I dont see that on this guy. This sickest part about the video (besides this guys disgusting blubber)was that these two ppl are having unprotected *** in 2008!!
Let me clear something up with MJ.
Those parents sent their kids to a ranch with a grown man to sleep over. Even if it's the president of the united states. if you don't know someone then you *** have them sleeping over at some grown man's place.
That being said....
those parents were out for money. That's all it has been about. I have friends who have been around MJ since they were kids and nothing ever happened to them.
Those parents were opportunists and saw that as a chance to get money fro ma wealthy and well known individual.
What evidence was there? Word of mouth? Parents who coached their kids into lying?
Or fabricating stories? There are cameras all over Neverland Ranch. Security is crazy. You think someone wouldn't have caught something on camera if he was touching those kids?
MJ is misunderstood. Hes a HUGE kid and bc his childhood was so messed up He is trying to vicariously live it through these kids. He is wired different but if you had the childhood and hd to endure all the stress that he did growing up. you' be too
mzzlisha75- That's Wendy's husband alright! I didn't see the tape but I saw pictures! And it's him! MTO won't talk about it because they KISS Wendy's *** ALL DAY AND ***! And I'm not sure but this website is probably started by her and run by Fred! You never know how things work behind closed doors!
Robert Kelly did it! Dumb ***! Take him to jail already! Men are sick! You never see woman doing that sh!t! How can a grown *** man be sexually attracted to a little girl? UGH! Have you ever watched "To Catch A Predator"? They are disgusting! I feel like going right through the TV and killing them! All pedophiles should get automatic death sentences! Registering as a *** offender does NOTHING to protect other potential victims! I don't get how that works! If I lived in the States I would go around killing every *** offender one by one! Going to jail would be well worth it! Vigilante justice! I have a 12 year old sister and couldn't imagine!
*** I CAN'T LIE IT LOOKS LIKE KELLZ GOT HIMSELF A GOOD TEAM. NO MOLE, THE GIRL SAYING ITS NOT HER SO NO WITNESS, FBI CAN'T SAY IT'S KELLZ, I MEAN I SEE A MISTRAIL.
AND THIS NOT THE FIRST GIRL TO GET *** ON. I REMEMBER LUKE WAS ON THE RADIO IN DELAWARE A FEW YEARS BACK AND HE WAS SAYING WHEN HIM AND FAT JOE, FEW BALL PLAYERS WERE IN DETROIT(WHERE I'M FROM) THAT THIS KNOWN ACTRESS AND SHE'S BEEN ON BET NETWORK PLENTY OF TIMES WAS IN THE HOTEL WITH ALL THESE DUDES. RAPPERS, AND BALL PLAYERS AND SHE ASKED ALL OF THEM TO PEE ON HER AND HE SAID *** *** ON HER AND SHE LOVED IT.
SO THE DEFENSE HAVE A POINT WHEN THAT MONEY EXCHANGED HANDS SHE BECAME A PAYING PROSITUTE AND THATS NOT 15 YEARS IN JAIL FOR THAT.
OYEA, I WAS THINKIN AT THE TIME AND WENDY WILLIAMS WAS THINKIN AT THE TIME ALSO THAT IT WAS NIA LONG.
Dude might be f*cked on this. Grown asz men need to learn to leave young asz girls alone. Have some self control because ur gonna get in trouble & not her. Same goes for growm asz women f*ckin little boys.
All they do is cry rape or whatever and now ur shellin out millions of dollars to keep it quiet or ur doing hard time and there out there doing the same *** to somebody else.
I honestly think its time we start holding these underage kids accountable 4 the *** that they do too. Because unless it was rape the *** was consensual so u were down wit it so u should suffer have the consequences. We let kids get away wit way to much ***.
[SPAM].com/khubbard
@TinaKnowles, there are a couple of people in here who say they haven't seen the tape either so you're definitely not the only one. For anyone saying they WANT to see it, shame on you. I know this tape was spreading fast back in the day probably before people REALLY knew what was going on. I wouldn't dare watch it now.
Its sad to me to listen to people from Chicago who are supporting this man even the guy in here trying to say it was him in the tape. Come on people, who cares if this guy is successful, who cares that he is from your hometown, he has a problem and it will continue until something is done about it. I have heard many stories about R. Kelly stepping to young girls in the mall (even after he was indicted). He needs to go down, point blank.
I do not support this man and have not seen I have heard about this tape back in 2003. I will not support this man, black or not.
Also, his people act as if you cannot get a mole removed. My dad had a mole on his forehead for 48 years and just got it removed. That's the best they've got? This whole thing is a conspiracy. The "victim" won't talk because her family is being supported by this man. I saw they don't need her. From what I've been reading, there are plenty of other people who KNOW it was her because she talked about it in her earlier days (i.e. Sparkle) and people who know it was him because he bragged about it (i.e. His brother). I hope R. Kelly does some time for this madness. Its been long enough and he obviously has not learned anything
I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE ARE PEOPLE ACTUALLY ASKING A QUESTION LIKE
"DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND THE TAPE?" ESP WOMEN??
ITS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY!!!!!!! PEOPLE GET ALL ***-UP WHEN CHILD PREDATORS HAVE *** WITH 12 AND 13 YR OLD KIDS AND BE LIKE SEND THEIR *** TO JAIL FOR LIFE, BUT ITS R KELLY AND *** WANT TO SEE THE *** TAPE?? GIVE ME A *** BREAK!! WHERE ARE WE AS A PEOPLE??
WE ARE TRULY SICK!!! I HAVE A 13 YEAR OLD AND I DONT WANT PEOPLE ASKING TO SEE A *** TAPE OF HER WITH A GROWN ASSS CHILD MOLESTER!!!
OH WELL, CHRIS HANSON...YOU GOT YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU!
WHILE Y'ALL SIT HERE DISCUSSING THIS PEDOPHILE, YOU PROBABLY ARE STEPPIN IN THE NAME OF LOVE, OR BELIEVING YOU CAN FLY, OR SOME B.ITCH IS REMINDING YOU OF YA GOD D.AMN JEEP, THIS ***.IGGA IS STILL MAKING RECORDS, STILL REMAKIN THE S.HIT OUTTA EVERYBODY ELSE SONGS, STILL GETTIN ALL HIS *** PLAYED ON THE RADIO. I TELL YOU, ***.IGGAS AIN'T ***, THAT MEAN YOU BLACK FOLK ALWAYS WHINNIN ABOUT WHAT'S NOT RIGHT AND YOU DON'T DO A MF THING ABOUT IT, I CANNOT BELIEVE IN THIS DAY AND AGE, YOU DUMB BASTIDS CAN SEE ACTUAL VIDEO OF THIS WEAK F.UCK *** IN A LITTLE GIRLS FACE AND SAY HIS PUNK A.SS IS NOT GUILTY!!!! TO ALL YOU H.OES ON MTO WITH THE BACK *** AND BABY PICTURES ON DISPLAY WITH THE (WHAT U THINK)AS SLICK A.SS COMMENTS, YOU H.OES DISGUST ME BECAUSE I KNOW IF THAT LITTLE GIRL WAS U, YOU WOULD BE DOING THE SAME THING FOR THAT "CELEBRITY". I SWEAR AS A BLACK WOMAN, I FEEL BAD FOR THE REST OF YOU H.OES WITH NO BACK BONES, "THIS MF AINT GUILTY.." GET A MF CLUE! AND 4 U WEAK A.SS ***.IGGAS LEAVING COMMENTS LIKE IT'S CUTE FOR A MAN TO GOSSIP, GET SOME BUSINESS, IMAGINE IF THAT WAS YOUR 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OR LITTLE SISTER (CAUSE DON'T NO GROWN AS.S REAL MAN GOSSIP, *** A.SSES. s.hit, y'all done *** me off taking up for "the pied piper" mf sings and get all the hoodrats to follow his lead....GET GROWN B.ITCHES!!!!
@ MyLoveIsLikeWoah,
I read Ur post, & I just wanna say that not everybody in the Chi supports that pervert, the ones who do can't even give a logical explanation 2 Y they still do, I normally hear "cuz he make good music" or "I made my baby 2 R. Kelly" or the classic line "Cuz He Good" & what's really sad is that the sisters who continue 2 support him act like abused girlfriends, they might as well be on some "he's still beatin' on me, sleepin' with my friend, but I love him" I guarantee any kind of money these women would'nt trust him with their daughters, although some of them proudly admitted that they could trust him.
My people.
SMH
I don't give a *** how good his records were...the *** is a pedophile and need to be locked up and hopefully his name placed on the sexoffender registry...and WTF!!??for those on here wanting to see the *** [EXPLETIVE] need your *** computers monitored for childpornography amd solicitation to minors.
she aint testifyin' 'cause it might not be her??? anyway how can he elude a court case 4 seven years, unless you got $$$$$$. the witnesses gone get it thrown out of court tryin' 2 be ignorant. if he like young girls o well, they did it back in the old days and they were called great-grandma and great-grandpa but now it's a crime please. the only problem i had wit da tape he *** on her, u know she was young 'cause let that had been a somebody about 30 and he *** on them, Kell's would've need a kalosopy bag 2 *** through for a few months. But she put up wit it so o well.
FREE R. KELLY! leave the man alone, them girls is younng fast hoes, they ain;t no victim. they wanted to get ***.ed on, they wanted to fu.ck him, their choice. and that tape could be a set up. it might not be kelly if they can't even see his face. leave the man alone, i need to hear some more good music!
This goes out to all the people on this thread, talking about someone getting surgery to get a mole removed:
CLEARLY, YOU'RE NOT UP ON READING & COMPREHENSION, OR YOU'RE NOT FULLY READING WHAT THE STORY SAID.
R. Kelly's attorney is saying Robert has a mole NOW - NOT BEFORE! How the hell are you going to get surgery to remove a mole that you CURRENTLY STILL HAVE!??? What did he do? Get the mole removed for the tape he made 10 years ago, then get surgery to get it put back on!!????? Try & actually read the story, man.
You're not paying attention. He's saying that the dude in the tape DOES NOT have a mole & that Robert HAS A MOLE ON HIS BACK RIGHT NOW. You're getting it backwards! Please actually read before you go flappin' the gums, please. It just looks bad Geez, man.
--Den
by no means am i condoning r. kelly's behavior but them girls ain't all innocent like yall claim they be like what 15,16 maybe 14? i know mofos who were killing people at them ages selling drugs and using drugs stop wanting kellz to go to jail or burn in hell for this sh** the man needs help obviously the young girls to he not RAPING them they are knowingly consenting if he were raping and killing them then yeah burn in hell how many of yall know girls who were having *** at 14,15,16? probably 90% of the peeps on here like i said i'm a father and i'm not condoning this sh** but some of yall act like the top priority in the world is r. kelly going to jail for life get the fugg outta here!!!!
i remember watching the tape w my man back in 03 when it was the hot button topic. he could not believe that he was peeing on that lil girl and he wanted me to see it because he was shocked, he got it from someone else. now the girls he was eating out all of them looked 18+ but that little girl was under developed and everything.i remember seeing his face really good when it wasn't burried in someone's ***. you could even hear him answering the phone in one section. i believe some of the places the acts took place where in his private studio and in his home so tell me how can any joe blow get into those places? i remeber he tried to blame it on his brother that looked nothing like him! well i believe he will get off because mike did! i wonder if they brought up his marriage to aaliyah or the little girls he already paid off before this story even broke. they said he use to go down to his old school, promise little girls records deals and bang them all out. it was around the time he was into aaliyah. he has a problem both him and mike and they need to be castrated and placed in jail with all the other offenders.
