Prosecutors rest case at R. Kelly’s federal trial in Chicago; fourth woman testifies she was victim
CHICAGO — Federal prosecutors have rested their case-in-chief against R. Kelly, after calling some two dozen witnesses against the disgraced R&B singer and his two co-defendants.
Their announcement came around 12:40 p.m. Central time Tuesday, during the third week of trial. Judge Harry Leinenweber adjourned the proceedings until Thursday morning, when defense attorneys can begin calling their witnesses.
In a surprising move, prosecutors closed after calling only four of the five Kelly accusers who they said jurors would hear from during the trial.
The fourth woman took the stand Tuesday morning.
“Nia” was 15 when she approached Kelly for an autograph at a mall in Atlanta, she testified. Kelly gave her his signature — and also wrote his phone number on the paper, she said.
They began to have phone conversations, and during one, she told him she was 15, she said. He said he wanted her to come see one of his
