From the Chicago Tribune
R. Kelly verdict: Not guilty
A Cook County jury Friday acquitted R&B superstar R. Kelly of child pornography charges, marking the end of a high-profile trial rich in courtroom drama and celebrity intrigue.
Jurors put little stock in the prosecution's star witness, a woman who claimed she participated in sex acts with Kelly and the underage girl. And because the alleged victim and her family denied she was the woman in the video, jurors' sense of reasonable doubt held strong; likewise, the videotape of the sex acts was convincing, but didn't conclusively prove illegal activity, jurors said.
The initial vote after the case went to the jury was 10-2 in favor of acquittal. Subsequent votes during "heated but civil" deliberations moved back and forth, but never very far. A white female juror said the jurors shared opinions, but never saw anything conclusive.
"And at some point we said there was a lack of evidence," the woman said. "There was nothing concrete enough to say it was him or her on that tape."
The 41-year-old singer, whose real name is Robert Kelly, long denied charges that he videotaped himself engaging in a variety of sex acts with his then-underage goddaughter. Authorities said the female in the video could have been as young as 13 at the time.
The jury of nine men and three women deliberated for 7 ½ hours before finding Kelly not guilty on all 14 counts.
"R. Kelly was found not guilty because they had the best jury that Cook County could produce," said Kelly's attorney Sam Adam Jr. "Two things happened today. R. Kelly got his name back, and [his goddaughter] never had to lose hers."
Prosecutors struck a somber note about a case that has lasted more than six years, using their statements to thank witnesses, profess faith in their case and acknowledge they had an uphill fight to prove it.
"As we must, we accept the verdict of the jury in this case," said Cook County State's Atty. Richard Devine. "This prosecution is one we have no reservations about."
Child pornography prosecutions can be extremely difficult in many ways—one of them being that victims often don't come forward themselves, Devine said.
Even so, he said, charges "have to be brought."
Shauna Boliker, lead prosecutor in the case, reserved her comments to thanking witnesses who came forward. "It was a difficult thing for them to do, but they did it very eloquently and courageously," she said.
In the moments before the verdict was announced, Kelly could be seen praying in the courtroom. As the verdicts rolled in, each count not guilty, Adam said he heard Kelly saying, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus."
News of the verdict spread like wildfire through the courthouse, as reporters ran from the overflow courtroom to call in dispatches and deputies sent out word over their radios. Some in the crowd outside the overflow courtroom, which included assistant state's attorneys and other court personnel, openly sighed in disbelief. A few clerks who peeked out of their offices to investigate the commotion cheered upon learning that the singer had been set free.
Kelly and his entourage made a swift exit from the building and were greeted by thunderous cheering on the courthouse steps.
Ieshi Agee, 25, stood with her three young boys, who cheered as Kelly walked out.
"I knew he wasn't guilty!" Agee screamed.
Kelly left surrounded by his entourage, who kept reporters away from the singer and escorted him to a waiting sport-utility vehicle as some 50 supporters shouted to him. Though Kelly did not speak to reporters, he did salute and wave to fans.
Allan Mayer, a Kelly spokesman, said: "Robert has asked me to speak on his behalf for now. Robert has said all along that he believes in our system, and he believes in God. And that when all the facts came out in court, he'd be cleared of these terrible charges.
"He did not expect that it would take 6 ½ years. It's been a terrible ordeal for him and his family, and at this point all he wants to do is move forward and try to put it behind him. He wants to thank his lawyers who defended him so brilliantly. He wants to thank his fans who stuck by him and supported him with such love
R. Kelly verdict: Not guilty
A Cook County jury Friday acquitted R&B superstar R. Kelly of child pornography charges, marking the end of a high-profile trial rich in courtroom drama and celebrity intrigue.
Jurors put little stock in the prosecution's star witness, a woman who claimed she participated in sex acts with Kelly and the underage girl. And because the alleged victim and her family denied she was the woman in the video, jurors' sense of reasonable doubt held strong; likewise, the videotape of the sex acts was convincing, but didn't conclusively prove illegal activity, jurors said.
The initial vote after the case went to the jury was 10-2 in favor of acquittal. Subsequent votes during "heated but civil" deliberations moved back and forth, but never very far. A white female juror said the jurors shared opinions, but never saw anything conclusive.
"And at some point we said there was a lack of evidence," the woman said. "There was nothing concrete enough to say it was him or her on that tape."
The 41-year-old singer, whose real name is Robert Kelly, long denied charges that he videotaped himself engaging in a variety of sex acts with his then-underage goddaughter. Authorities said the female in the video could have been as young as 13 at the time.
The jury of nine men and three women deliberated for 7 ½ hours before finding Kelly not guilty on all 14 counts.
"R. Kelly was found not guilty because they had the best jury that Cook County could produce," said Kelly's attorney Sam Adam Jr. "Two things happened today. R. Kelly got his name back, and [his goddaughter] never had to lose hers."
Prosecutors struck a somber note about a case that has lasted more than six years, using their statements to thank witnesses, profess faith in their case and acknowledge they had an uphill fight to prove it.
"As we must, we accept the verdict of the jury in this case," said Cook County State's Atty. Richard Devine. "This prosecution is one we have no reservations about."
Child pornography prosecutions can be extremely difficult in many ways—one of them being that victims often don't come forward themselves, Devine said.
Even so, he said, charges "have to be brought."
Shauna Boliker, lead prosecutor in the case, reserved her comments to thanking witnesses who came forward. "It was a difficult thing for them to do, but they did it very eloquently and courageously," she said.
In the moments before the verdict was announced, Kelly could be seen praying in the courtroom. As the verdicts rolled in, each count not guilty, Adam said he heard Kelly saying, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus."
News of the verdict spread like wildfire through the courthouse, as reporters ran from the overflow courtroom to call in dispatches and deputies sent out word over their radios. Some in the crowd outside the overflow courtroom, which included assistant state's attorneys and other court personnel, openly sighed in disbelief. A few clerks who peeked out of their offices to investigate the commotion cheered upon learning that the singer had been set free.
Kelly and his entourage made a swift exit from the building and were greeted by thunderous cheering on the courthouse steps.
Ieshi Agee, 25, stood with her three young boys, who cheered as Kelly walked out.
"I knew he wasn't guilty!" Agee screamed.
Kelly left surrounded by his entourage, who kept reporters away from the singer and escorted him to a waiting sport-utility vehicle as some 50 supporters shouted to him. Though Kelly did not speak to reporters, he did salute and wave to fans.
Allan Mayer, a Kelly spokesman, said: "Robert has asked me to speak on his behalf for now. Robert has said all along that he believes in our system, and he believes in God. And that when all the facts came out in court, he'd be cleared of these terrible charges.
"He did not expect that it would take 6 ½ years. It's been a terrible ordeal for him and his family, and at this point all he wants to do is move forward and try to put it behind him. He wants to thank his lawyers who defended him so brilliantly. He wants to thank his fans who stuck by him and supported him with such love
