: CHICAGO - (AP) R. Kelly's defense lawyers rested their case Monday after calling about half the number of witnesses as prosecutors in less than half the time.
Kelly's lawyers called 12 witnesses over two days last week at his child pornography, including three relatives of the alleged victim who testified they did not recognize the female who appears in a sex tape at the heart of the case.
The prosecution called 22 witnesses over seven days. They included several childhood friends of the alleged victim and four of her relatives who identified her as the female on the graphic, 27-minute video.
Kelly and the alleged victim, who both deny being on the tape, never testified.
Jurors sat in court for just minutes Monday morning before Judge Vincent Gaughan sent them home, saying they would have to return Tuesday to hear two rebuttal witnesses for the prosecution.
Kelly, 41, has pleaded not guilty to child pornography for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with a female who prosecutors say was at young as 13. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Kelly won a Grammy in 1997 for "I Believe I Can Fly," and is known for such raunchy songs as "Bump N' Grind," "Ignition," and for "Trapped in the Closet," a multipart saga about the sexual secrets of a lively and ever-expanding cast of characters.
One observer in the courtroom gallery Monday was actor Eric Lane, who plays the hotheaded character Twan in the "Trapped in the Closet" series.
Closing arguments will likely take place Thursday, Gaughan said.
A lower-back mole — already the focus of hours of testimony — will again be a central issue during Tuesday's rebuttal, prosecutor Shauna Boliker told the judge.
knowing what we know the mf is guilty but only what was presented in trial I think it is going to be hard to convict him. As far as I know they didn't bring his past with underage girls into it, didn't have any credible witnesses testify that he likes them young (like a family member of a past victim or even his brother that doesn't mind talking) and why were there no Kelly fingerprints on this tape? The defense was even worse he payed top dollar for that ish?! I think he is going to walk (again)
FIRST OFF @ PLEASEBELIEVE AND IKNOWIKNOW, FUNNIEST COMMENTS OF THE ENTIRE DAY! so, thank u...
SECONDLY "One observer in the courtroom gallery Monday was actor Eric Lane, who plays the hotheaded character Twan in the "Trapped in the Closet" series."
LMFAOOOOOO HE DUMB AS HELL, have any other "actors" or "singers" come out 2 sit they happy *** in the court room? STAY HOME PLAYAAAA
Man...that's him in that tape and that's also the girl. Anyone can see that. Even if the girl says it's not her it's still obvious that the girl on the tape is underage so it doesn't matter if it's her or not. It's just ashame that you need proof like that to win your case. And any fool can see that's R. Kelly.
I personally dont agree wit nobody gettin *** on in any ***. But if the victim dont want him punished (ie pressing charges) and the victims parents dont want him punished. Hell that was almost ten years ago. I say thats one that get charged to the game. If the victims dont care then you have to wonder why everybody else does?? What are they gettin out of it?
IDK! 1st of all this has just taken too long! Fo real this was like what 99 2000? who even remembers. Anyway If R. Kelly did this shame on him. but I have to agree with jman0106. If she said it aint her leave the *** man alone. all these people sayin its her it wasnt her is irrelevant. She said it's not me so why are they still pressing the issue. By no means am I saying that what he is accused of doin is right but the video is just not enuff. People get off doing horrible things everyday and that we just can't change but if she said it aint her leave him alone.
If this country's legal system was not so unreliable it would be an open and *** case with the tape. I think that the lawyers and judges are getting better at taking the defendants money and still sentencing them. I believe that is what is likely to happen in this case. I would not want to be in his position.
Y'all keep saying that it took so long and if it wasn't her let him go. First of all his attorneys HAD to stall the trial because it is open and ***. They were praying that some witnesses would fall off (which they did) and that people would lose interest. It wasn't delayed because they didn't have anything on him. It was delayed for personal leaves and defense attorney delays. And has any of you Kelly supporters stopped to think that there's a reason why the girl is saying it's not her?? For one, she's paid. I live in Chicago and know people that know her who says she doesn't want for anything (and does not work!!). Also, how foolish would the defense have been to allow the jury to see Exhibit A live and in living color??? CASE CLOSED..........Somebody grab Kellz some orange gators to match that jumpsuit!!
His defense was raggedy. The prosecution brought a million people up there saying it was the girl on the tape...but the girl wasn't on trial; it was their job to identify the MALE in the tape. It could have been the girl and a 16 year old boy for all the jury knew. I just d/led the vid again and watched it, and all that I can say is I THINK the girl in the tape looks young in my opinion and the guy in the tape LOOKS like R. Kelly, but I couldn't send him to jail based on what I think. She was doing some helluva riding on the dude's dyck but she couldn't give head worth a ***. The defense could have kept that Little Man and mole on the back *** because if I were on that jury, I would be *** that they would even try to play me that close and convict him of at least a *** speeding ticket or something for that weak *** they put out. Mr. Hairbraider, you know I love you to death, but err um it's 50/50 from what I have read so far about the trial procedings.
federationmusicgroup Flag post I personally dont agree wit nobody gettin *** on in any ***. But if the victim dont want him punished (ie pressing charges) and the victims parents dont want him punished. Hell that was almost ten years ago. I say thats one that get charged to the game. If the victims dont care then you have to wonder why everybody else does?? What are they gettin out of it?
[SPAM][SPAM]______________ his charge is not molestation, assault or rape...his sick asss had the AUDACITY to tape it...his charges are possession of child pornography...
