Defense begins attempt to sow doubt on child-porn accusations at R. Kelly trial as singer says he won’t testify
CHICAGO — Attorneys for R. Kelly and his co-defendants presented one witness apiece Thursday morning after federal prosecutors rested their case-in-chief against the disgraced singer earlier this week.
But first, U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber denied the defendants’ requests to acquit them of all charges before the jury even gets the case.
The motions for judgment of acquittal, filed at the conclusion of the prosecution’s case on Tuesday, are routine in criminal trials and almost always denied. At the very least, they are meant to preserve issues for a possible appeal down the road.
After making his rulings, Leinenweber asked each defendant if they plan to take the stand on their own behalf.
Kelly, seated at the defense table in a gray suit, nodded as the judge explained his rights.
