Kelly speaks at child porn trial, won't testify
(Agencies)
2008-06-11 09:24
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In this June 2, 2008 file photo, singer R. Kelly returns to the Cook County Criminal Court Building after a break as his child pornography trial continues in Chicago.[Agencies]
R. Kelly told the judge in his child pornography trial Tuesday that he doesn't plan to testify.
After Judge Vincent Gaughan told Kelly he had a right to not take the stand, the R&B singer leaned forward at the defense table with his hands folded and, speaking for the first time at the trial, responded: "I decided not to testify."
The jury wasn't in the room at the time.
Kelly, 41, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl. Both Kelly and the alleged victim, now 23, have denied being on the tape.
Also Tuesday, the judge ruled that jurors can view the sex tape once they begin deliberating.
Kelly's lawyers had asked the judge to bar jurors from reviewing the graphic video, saying they worried jurors would overemphasize one piece of evidence. But prosecutors argued the tape is the primary subject of the trial and couldn't be kept from jurors.
"People's Exhibit No. 1 is the actual nucleus of the case ... the evidence centers around this exhibit," said prosecutor Shauna Boliker.