Jury Set to Deliberate in NJ Incest Case

Jurors who endured more than three weeks of often graphic testimony about a father allegedly raping and beating his underage daughter until she bore him a child are set to begin deliberations Tuesday.

The jury is considering eight counts against the man, who faces five separate sexual assault trials — one for each daughter he is accused of raping. Three of his daughters are believed to have given birth to a total of six of his children.

Jurors heard the man's former wife, and a daughter who says she bore him a child, testify that the man told them he wanted to create "pure" family bloodlines and enforced his will with beatings and extreme control over every aspect of their daily lives.

The man, who has pleaded not guilty, testified that he loved his children and never harmed them. He said the fact his children were born at home, had no birth certificates or Social Security numbers, never saw doctors, were home-schooled and adhered to strict vegetarian diets were all choices he and his wife had made together in the interest of holistic child-rearing.

Forensics experts testified earlier in the trial that DNA profiles showed the defendant was likely the father of his own grandchild.

The Associated Press doesn't identify victims of sexual crimes and is not reporting the names of the man or his former wife to protect the identities of their children, now over 18.

Having been ruled competent to stand trial earlier this year, the man faces a total of 27 charges in all the cases, including aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, lewdness, child endangerment, aggravated criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual contact.