Audio By Carbonatix
Opening arguments have been made in the child pornography trial involving US R&B star R Kelly.
A prosecutor at the Chicago trial told jurors Mr Kelly had staged and taped "vile" sex acts with an underage girl.
But a lawyer for Mr Kelly said the video showed neither him nor the alleged victim.
The star has denied filming himself engaging in sex acts with a girl who prosecutors say could have been as young as 13.
In Tuesday's opening arguments, prosecutor Shauna Boliker told the jury they would "see the sex acts he commands her to do".
"Acts you have never seen before. Vile, disturbing and disgusting sex acts, actions that were choreographed, produced and starred in by Robert Kelly."
But defence lawyer Sam Adam Jr said the video was "at best a copy of a copy of a copy".
He said Mr Kelly had a significant mole on his lower back and that the man on the tape did not have the mole.
Mr Adam said neither the FBI nor "a single witness" could identify the man in the tape as Mr Kelly.
Mr Kelly sat grim-faced through the hearing, the Associated Press news agency reported.
The jurors in the Chicago court case were selected from an initial pool of 150.
They include a man who spent five days in jail for marijuana possession and the wife of a Baptist preacher.
Gagging order
On Friday, Judge Vincent Gaughan refused a media request for access to transcripts of any parts of the hearing held behind closed doors.
He also refused to lift a gagging order forbidding lawyers from talking about the case.
The judge said he was not trying to inhibit the press but wanted to guarantee a fair trial.
In 2002, Mr Kelly was charged with 21 counts relating to child pornography and was released on $750,000 (£383,000) bail. Seven of the charges have since been dropped.
Mr Kelly, whose hits include She's Got That Vibe and I Believe I Can Fly, faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.
The girl, now 23, who is alleged to be in a crucial videotape, says it was not her in the footage.
Source:BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Ayawaso East NDC Primary: Baba Jamal’s campaign distributes TV Sets, food to delegates
31 seconds -
MzNana & Obaapa Christy unite on soul-stirring gospel anthem Ahoto’
27 minutes -
Ayawaso East by-election underway as five candidates vie for NDC ticket
32 minutes -
Loyalty is everything in politics; Bawumia must decide on Afenyo-Markin – Adom-Otchere
48 minutes -
Ghana positions itself as a Competitive Fund Domiciliation Hub
1 hour -
NPP: Afenyo-Markin defends post-election coordination, urges focus on party unity
1 hour -
MoMo boss Shaibu Haruna named fintech CEO of the Year as MobileMoney Ltd, MTN Ghana sweep top awards
2 hours -
Kofi Bentil praises Afenyo-Markin’s leadership style but calls it combative
2 hours -
NDC’s demolishing exercises will feature in 2028 election – Adom Otchere
2 hours -
“I was hoping for 60%” – Paul Adom-Otchere on Dr Bawumia’s flagbearer win
3 hours -
Africa’s growth depends on empowering SMEs, women and youth – CEO of Telecel Group
3 hours -
Force for good in action: Absa’s colleague volunteerism in 2025
3 hours -
14-Year-old boy drowns at Fiapre Catholic Junction in Bono Region
3 hours -
KIA too big to be named after Kotoka – Kofi Bentil
3 hours -
NPP should be the last to talk about renaming national monuments – Atta Issah
3 hours
