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Mar 3, 2008 9:05 pm US/Eastern

Deliberations Set In Haitian Slave Trial

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ― Closings arguments have started in the federal trial of a South Florida family who kept a Haitian teen as their slave for six years.

All of the four relatives have pleaded not guilty to charges that they illegally brought Simone Celestin into the U.S. in 1999 when she was 14-years old. She claimed that the family forced her to work 15 hour days, 7 days a week.

Federal Prosecutor Edward Chung said Celestin's treatment was harsh. He added that she didn't have an option but to work until her escape from the home in 2005.

She testified last week that the family forced her to perform chores instead of giving her an education and considered suicide after years of beatings and intimidation.

Defense attorney Leonard Fenn questioned why Celestin never sought help from visitors to the home.

They say her case is motivated by her desire to become a permanent U.S. resident.

None of the four family members testified during the weeklong trial that wrapped up Monday.

Prosecutors will give a response Tuesday morning before the jury begins deliberations.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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