CARTERSVILLE, Ga., Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Harrison "Hardbody" Norris Jr., a former wrestler on trial in a Georgia sex trafficking case, called the charges "trumped up" during his closing argument.
Norris -- who is accused of keeping nine women as sex slaves in two Cartersville, Ga., homes -- said while acting as his own attorney during his 90-minute closing argument the charges against him are false, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday.
"I've been in a spider web long enough," he said. "I'm ready to go home to my family."
The former pro wrestler said federal prosecutors wasted tax dollars pursuing "trumped up" charges against him in a case that has "more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese."
Norris claimed the alleged victims were living and training with him at his pro wrestling camp and had the power to leave of their own free will any time they wanted. He said he was not aware of the women's involvement in prostitution.
Prosecutors argue that Norris used his wrestling business to attract poor and vulnerable women into prostitution and forced labor.
"It's insulting to ask you to believe he wasn't involved in this sex trafficking and enslavement," prosecutor Susan Coppedge said after Norris' closing statement. "It's time to knock down the facade."
