Goddaughters and Wayans Brothers: R. Kelly Trial Gets Relative

By Marcus Gilmer in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 9, 2008 5:01PM

After being dragged out for years, we may be getting closer to resolution in the R. Kelly child pornography case: the defense is expected to rest by the end of the week, setting the stage for what promises to be an explosive round of closing arguments. But there's still plenty of courtroom drama left to unfurl. One of the primary questions heading into the trial's fourth week is whether or not the young woman at the center of all this mess will testify as a witness for the defense. The girl, Kelly's goddaughter, has denied that it's her on the tape and also refused to testify against Kelly for the prosecution. Even if she does agree to testify on Kelly's behalf, it doesn't mean Kelly's team will call her to the stand. According to former-prosecutor-turned-defense-attorney Bob Loeb:

"It's risky," Loeb said. "By calling her, you effectively reduce the entire defense to the believability of her testimony. . . . If the jury believes her when she says 'It isn't me,' that's a reasonable doubt and enough to acquit Kelly."

"But if the jury thinks she's lying, it could wipe out all of the other doubts the defense has managed to raise," he added.

It also appears as if The Wayans Defense isn't going away any time soon. In an interview with MTV News, Shawn Wayans said, “I ain’t gonna get in the middle of R. Kelly’s trial,” Shawn Wayans recently told MTV News, a heavy tone of incredulity in his voice. “[But] I’m curious.”