At his trial for sexual abuse, R. Kelly portrayed as a "sex symbol" by his lawyers

His trial was held Thursday in one of the courts in New York City.

"

", pleaded before the jury, lawyer Deveraux Cannick.

"

", He added, while the singer has been tried since August 18 for extortion, sexual exploitation of a minor, kidnapping, corruption and forced labor, over a period from 1994 to 2018.

To read also Scathing requisition to the trial of the American singer R. Kelly described as a sexual "predator"

During the trial in Brooklyn Federal Court, nine women and two men testified that R. Kelly had sexually abused them, describing rape, forced drug use, imprisonment and even facts child pornography.

The prosecution portrayed him as a "

" and the chief of a "

" aided by his employees or those around him, to procure sexual favors.

In a tone sometimes mocking, the lawyer on the contrary portrayed the victims, some of whom were minors at the time of the facts, as groupies greedy for money.

"A

", quipped the lawyer, referring to the documentary series

(

) which had brought to light the accusations of sexual abuse against the singer, known worldwide for his hit

and triple winner of the Grammy Awards in 1998.

To read also Victim of R.Kelly, she finally testifies: "

"

"

", continued the lawyer, assuring that R. Kelly "

".

He went so far as to compare the singer to Martin Luther King, saying that R. Kelly had only sought to "

" as the iconic civil rights leader.

If he is found guilty of all the charges against him, the singer faces a sentence ranging from ten years in prison to life imprisonment.

After the defense's final argument, the jury of seven men and five women will begin to deliberate on R. Kelly's guilt.