CHICAGO — Prosecutors in R. Kelly’s federal child pornography and conspiracy trial began closing arguments Monday by reminding jurors of their strongest evidence against the singer: The multiple videos they viewed showing Kelly 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. “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.”
Attorneys began their arguments after four weeks of evidence and testimony, and the presentations promise to be fiery as well as lengthy. Arguments from prosecutors as well as lawyers for Kelly and former associates Derrel McDavid and Milton “June” Brown are expected to last all day and could even spill into Tuesday, when jury deliberations are set to begin.
