June 13, 2008 20:49

R. Kelly found not guilty

R&B star is acquitted of all child pornography charges

A Chicago jury has acquitted R Kelly of all child pornography charges after less than a day of deliberations.

The jurors found the R&B star not guilty on all 14 counts of videotaping, producing or soliciting child pornography. If he had been convicted, he could have faced up to 15 years in prison.

The Grammy-winning singer, whose real name is Robert Kelly, has consistently denied the charges that he taped himself having sex with a female as young as 13.

The 12-person jury reached their verdict after just seven-and-a-half hours of deliberations, reports the Chicago Tribune.

During the trial, Kelly's defence team defence team argued he'd been wrongly accused and insisted he was not the man who appears in the video tape at the centre of the case because he did not have a mole on his back, as R Kelly does. They said the tape had been doctored and implied that Kelly was the victim of an extortion plot.

Kelly never took the stand in the case, nor did Kelly's goddaughter, who witnesses testified was the young female in the tape.

The explicit video shows a couple engaged in oral sex and shows the male urinating on the female.

The not-guilty verdict puts an end to the case that has been languishing for nearly six years.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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