Jury begins deliberating in R. Kelly’s federal trial in Chicago after more than 8 hours of closing arguments
CHICAGO — After more than eight hours of closing arguments over the past two days, jurors in the Chicago federal case against disgraced R&B superstar R. Kelly and two former associates have begun their deliberations.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber spent about 40 minutes reading instructions to the panel of seven women and five men before sending them back to begin discussions shortly after 1 p.m.
Kelly, 55, faces an indictment charging him with 13 counts of producing and receiving child pornography, enticing minors to engage in criminal sexual activity, and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Also charged are former Kelly associates Derrel McDavid and Milton “June” Brown, who are accused in an alleged scheme to buy back incriminating sex tapes that had been taken from Kelly’s collection and to hide years of alleged sexual abuse of underage girls.
Before deliberations began, Kelly’s attorney urged the jury in her closing argument Tuesday to put aside any preconceived notions they may have about the singer and see “the humanity”
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