R. Kelly's fate in jury's hands

CHICAGO, June 12 (UPI) -- Jurors in the Chicago child pornography trial of singer R. Kelly began deliberations Thursday.

The jury spent about 3 ½ hours discussing the case before recessing for the night, The Chicago Tribune reported.

In late afternoon, Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan denied the jury's request for a transcript of the entire trial, saying it would take too long to provide them with one deleting sidebar conversations.

Robert Sylvester Kelly, 41, is an R&B star, best known for the hit, "I Believe I Can Fly."

Kelly is charged with videotaping himself allegedly having sex with an underage girl some time between 1998 and 2000. Kelly's attorneys maintain the female on the tape isn't who prosecutors say she is and the man having sex with her isn't Kelly.

If convicted, the recording artist faces up to 15 years in prison.

In her closing argument Thursday morning, Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Bolicker talked to the jury about why the alleged victim did not testify. She suggested jurors think of the trial as comparable to one for homicide, in which victims are absent.