R. Kelly Side Has Closing Arguments

The jury in the R. Kelly child pornography trial began deliberating this afternoon.The R&B singer was originally charged six years ago with appearing on a graphic videotape with a girl alleged to be 13 years-old.

Throughout the course of the trial several family members and friends have testified for both sides, some identifying her and Kelly as the participants on the tape and others disagreeing. Both Kelly and the alleged victim deny appearing on the tape and neither testified during the trial.

According to the Associated Press, prosecutors replayed the tape at the center of the trial today in their closing arguments.AssistantState’s Attorney Shauna Boliker, told jurors Kelly controlled the situation, “We’re going to see his direction,” she said. Kelly is “directing her to dance, where to stand, when to stop urinating.”

Defense attorney Sam Adam, Jr. contended; stating the charges began from extortion attempts made against his client since the man on the tape “may favor him.” Adam told jurors, “That’s what this is about money, money, money.”

He added neither Kelly nor the alleged female are the participants in the sex tape because “any solid man in that family, any solid woman in that family would have gone over there and broken his legs, would have gone over there and beat the crap out of him.” Adam also claimed an order of protection would have been put in place against Kelly had the family believed him to be guilty.

The multi-Grammy award winning R&B singer faces 14 counts of videotaping, producing, or soliciting child pornography. He pled innocent to all charges and if convicted could face up to 15 years in prison.