Prosecution Rests In Polygamist Leader Trial
SAN ANGELO (AP) - Prosecutors in Texas have rested their child sexual assault case against a polygamist religious leader after playing an audio recording of him having sex with a 12-year-old girl.
The tape played Wednesday wrapped up five days of testimony against Warren Jeffs. The 55-year-old head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls he took as brides in so-called spiritual marriages.
Two previous recordings were of Jeffs instructing a 14-year-old on how to please him sexually.
Jeffs' church believes polygamy brings exaltation in heaven, and followers see Jeffs as a prophet who is God's spokesman on earth.
The case goes to Jeffs, who is acting as his own attorney but didn't cross-examine any witnesses for the state.
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