The verdict is in -- R. Kelly has been found not guilty on all 14 counts stemming from his child pornography trial.
Kelly left the courthouse this afternoon without commenting.
The R&B superstar cried softly as the 14 not-guilty verdicts were read in the courtroom this afternoon.
He then dabbed at his face with a handkerchief and hugged each of his four attorneys.
A short time later, he emerged from the courthouse surrounded by bodyguards and was greeted by dozens of screaming and cheering vans.
Some yelled "We love you" as Kelly was escorted into a van.
The verdict came six years after the Grammy Award winning singer was first charged with appearing on a graphic videotape with a girl prosecutors contended was as young as 13 at the time.
Both Kelly and the now 23-year-old woman denied they were the ones on the tape.
The singer had faced 15 years in prison.
The sex tape in question has been circulating underground for just about as long as this case has been waiting to go to trial... six year.
Have you seen the tape? Even if you haven't, do you agree with the jury's verdict.
Did the jurors get it right or wrong?
Share your thoughts.
Comments (17)
well u see first of all if the girl on the tape didn't prove it was her.why was it a big issue anyway his emeny tried to destroy his fame.but god works in mysterious ways because he know when people try to do dirty things for money.and it might be true,but you have to prove all documents on a person before you try to come up with anything.just being angry and trying to get money it's not going to work like that.and if you a real person you could have tryed to talk to him instead you trying to destroy his career.now that's damn wrong but god going to bring him back to the same person he was.R.KELLY the known famous R&B singer.do your thang R.KELLY MY PRAYER'S WAS ALWAYS WITH YOU.GO BACK AND FINISH DOING YOU GOD BLESS.
Posted by qiana | June 16, 2008 12:16 PM
Posted on June 16, 2008 12:16
I personally don't care what anyone says, I knew all along that R.Kelly was going to be found innocent on these bogus charges. If the prosecution was so sure that they were going to get a conviction, why did they take so long to go to trial? If he was just a plain ole' advarage black man, and not a celebrity, he would have been tried, convicted, and sentenced so quick that it would make your head spin!! These types of situations go on everyday, and noone is making it public as with R.Kelly. He's been found innocent of these charges, it's time to leave him alone so that he can move forward with his life. - From R.Kelly's #1 Fan!
Posted by cherie keller | June 15, 2008 11:03 PM
Posted on June 15, 2008 23:03
Without the alleged victim's testimony, the prosecution really did not have a solid case. A 20-30 minute excerpt from a boot-legged video just was not enough to convince the jury.
But in the the court of public opinion, many still believe he did it. Even though he won the case, his reputation is still tarnished because of this. On the flipside, the publicity from this trial is undoubtedly going to increase the sales of his new album next month.
Hopefully, R. Kelly realizes that he has been given another chance. He is blessed with tremendous musical talent. But remember, what God giveth, God can also taketh away.
Posted by Anonymous | June 14, 2008 11:55 PM
Posted on June 14, 2008 23:55
In the words of Charlie Brown, Good Grief!!!It seems as though the only time juries find reasonable doubt is when a celebrity is involved. Everybody with a mole knows that moles can grow on the body at anytime. Even if the girl now a lady says it wasn't her, it was someone's child.
Posted by Jane Doe | June 14, 2008 9:15 PM
Posted on June 14, 2008 21:15
I am so happy that this case is over with. But I hope they find out who was on that tape, Because that not fair to whoever that young lady was. I hope the state find out about that situation.
Posted by Anonymous | June 14, 2008 12:09 PM
Posted on June 14, 2008 12:09
The American Justice system is a joke. This monster has been let back out with no lesson to prey on your daughters. As a blackman I saw the tape and knew it was him from the start, are the American public that stupid and blind. This man is guilty and will now take steps to not repeat his mistakes, we will not hear of this again from him but he will be screwing and peeing on someones daughter. I now belive that justice is not blind but the jury is. In time the crops will grow and we will reap.
Posted by Richard Watkis | June 14, 2008 11:06 AM
Posted on June 14, 2008 11:06
that's crap about money can buy anything! He didn't pay for the jury! Do you know how many people with "money" are locked up!
because he won in the legal system fair and square now it's because of his money! not fair! The case was weak from the beginning and clearly looks like a case of extortion!
If he's a pedifile God help him!
People don't like these young black rich hip hop guys and that's part of the guilt from the beginning.
It's not his fault the media "shoves there celebrity down our throats".
Marvin Gaye wrote a song: "masochistic lady". The lyrics in this song would put anything kelly has ever written sound like nursery rhymes! Marvin's would probally put kelly's!
had we had media access the way we do now and the media "shoving the celebs' down our throats" it's possible Marvin wouldn't be admired as he is today!
It's really funny how today he's a pedifile, but it's funny how when He cut checks for the VT students, Katrina, and honored our military with a song, he was R kelly.
If you don't like the guy, don't like him. Plain and simple He was found not guilty!
Posted by keith | June 13, 2008 6:56 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 18:56
I believe in my heart that he is guilty as charged!!!!I also think the young lady that got on the stand and said she had a threesome with him and the young girl should be charged now, for having sex with a minor she admitted she had sex with the little girl let's go after her now.
Posted by msryan | June 13, 2008 5:40 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 17:40
you think the trial was expensive, the taxpayers don't even know the 1/2 of it. The money that was spent on the outside of the building never done but done just for this trial...what a waste. It ws $10,000 to clean the windows outside
Posted by Anonymous | June 13, 2008 5:25 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 17:25
The R.kelly video was being watched, sold during the trial at 26th st, it was on DVD
Posted by CB | June 13, 2008 5:23 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 17:23
I agree with the Jury, the evidence is inconclusive. How can you tell the age of woman by her body, many of age women don't have extremely developed bodies and can be mistaken as a minor. The To catch a Predator show use's women that are of age but look as they were not to get predators all the time. And there's no witness, only in Cook County can they prosecute you with out solid evidence or witnesses. It's ridiculous, Dick Divine should try prosecuting some of these dirty cops out here that are framing people, assulting the public, and robbing citizens.
Posted by Will | June 13, 2008 5:10 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 17:10
I agree with the jury, they made the right verdict. How can you tell the age of a woman by how developed her body is? Many women are of age but look like minors. The show to catch a predator use's women that wre of age to lure predators because they look like minors. Cook County should show the same vigor when trying to catch the police for all the claims against them that they are hiding. They commit worse crimes than this for a long time.
Posted by Will | June 13, 2008 5:04 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 17:04
I THINK ANYBODY CAN POINT THEIR FINGER AT R.KELLY SHOULD BE A SHAME OF THEMSELVES. WE ARE ALL SINNERS AND WE ALL HAVE DONE SOME THINGS AGAIST GOD SO FOR YOU TO POINT OUR FINGER AT HIM IS TELLING GOD TO JUGDE US LIKE I JUDGE R.KELLY. FIRST ONE WITH NO SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE. I'M WAITING.... MY POINT EXCETLY
Posted by TYWONE LEEE | June 13, 2008 4:54 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 16:54
This goes to show that money doe's talk.Why did evereyone change their minds BULL SHIT
Posted by michael p | June 13, 2008 4:35 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 16:35
I enjoy R. Kelly's music but there is no doubt in my mind that this man preys on underage girls. It is a known fact in the black community that he has a penache for young girls. What disgusts me is that if this had been an underaged, blond hair, blue eyed white girl Mr. Kelly would be under the jail. He is GUILTY! He knows he's guilty and God knows he's guilty.
Posted by Disgusted Fan | June 13, 2008 4:16 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 16:16
I agree with the jury 100% for the simple fact they didn't have enough (strong, reliable)evidence to convict Kelly. Even though all this kinda ruined his rep he's still gonna continue to make great music.
Posted by Yolanda | June 13, 2008 3:48 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 15:48
Yea i agree with the jury i think the trail shoud have never went on. If he say it wasn't and the girl say it wasn't her then they should have been find out who it was on the tape
Posted by Kellyfan | June 13, 2008 3:05 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 15:05