Jurors in R. Kelly trial dismissed for the day after one is replaced; defense argument to resume Tuesday
CHICAGO — After four weeks of testimony from nearly three dozen witnesses, closing arguments in the Chicago federal trial of R. Kelly and two co-defendants began Monday with a scathingly methodical presentation from prosecutors and a fire-and-brimstone statement on behalf of Kelly’s former business manager.
Prosecutors at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse started by reminding jurors of their strongest evidence against the singer: the multiple videos they viewed showing Kelly sexually abusing his 14-year-old goddaughter, “Jane.”
“Kelly and his team, they did their level best ... to cover up the fact that Robert Kelly, R. Kelly the R&B superstar, is actually a sexual predator. They did their best, but in the end, they failed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Pozolo said in the packed ceremonial courtroom.
“We are here today because those tapes that they concealed for 20 years are no longer their secret. You have seen the tapes. You have seen what Kelly did to Jane.”
Meanwhile, the attorney for Kelly’s co-defendant, Derrel McDavid, told jurors in his closing argument that the prosecution was riddled with reasonable doubt and based on untrustworthy witnesses — and that McDavid had no way of knowing whether Kelly was really sexually abusing minors.
“The man didn’t know,” Beau Brindley said. “They’ve got nothing! ...
