Troubled R+B star R. KELLY won't testify in his own defence as his child pornography trial winds to a close.
After the defence team rested on Monday (09Jun08) after quizzing 12 witnesses over two days, the jury was sent home early.
The trial commenced in Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday (10Jun08) with Judge Vincent Gaughan urging Kelly to reconsider his decision not to testify.
But the R+B singer simply leaned forward and, uttering his first words during the two-week trial, said, "I decided not to testify."
Prosecutors are scheduled to call two rebuttal witnesses on Tuesday. Closing arguments are expected to be delivered at the end of the week (ends13Jun08).
Kelly is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a 13-year-old girl a decade ago. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, insisting the man in the video is not him.
The underage girl, who is now 23, claims she is not the victim in the footage. This has been disputed by friends and family members of the unnamed female.
Members of the jury will get the chance to have a second look at the sex tape once they begin deliberating after Kelly's defence team lost a bid to bar the jurors from reviewing the graphic video, insisting the viewing would sway the panel.
