Jury Rounding Up in R Kelly Trial

By Jane Ivory
16:58, May 14th 2008
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Jury Rounding Up in R Kelly Trial

Five more jurors were added Tuesday to the three already picked Monday, in the Chicago trial of R&B singer R Kelly, on charges of child pornography.

Among jurors selected Tuesday through the joined forces of Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan, the defense and the prosecution, is a white woman in her 20s who is currently studying criminal justice; she hopes to become a police officer. Asked about her knowledge of R Kelly’s case, she replied she only knew he was a singer who had been arrested, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

Another juror is a young African-American culinary student, who said that despite having heard of the case on TV and radio, he could “absolutely” put that aside and stick to the evidence presented during the trial. “I haven't seen the tape, and I haven't followed the story,” he said, quoted by the Sun-Times.

The remaining three jury members are a white man who has already served on two civil juries; a black woman in her 20s, who is a teacher’s assistant at a parish; and a man who works in an investment firm.

Monday, three jurors were selected during nine hours of questioning 16 potential jury members. They are an African-American Baptist preacher’s wife who lives in Olympia Fields, where Kelly also lives; a business executive, white, with two children; and a black male in his 50s, who said he does not like seeing pornographic magazines at convenience stores and that he would give Kelly a fair trial.

All potential jurors questioned are asked about their knowledge of the media coverage of R Kelly’s trial and about their views on the fairness of the justice system for people with fame and wealth.

Jury selection is expected to continue throughout the week. The lawyers will pick 16 persons, 12 jurors and four alternates.

Kelly was charged in 2002 with 21 counts relating to child pornography. He was released on $750,000 bail. Seven of the charges were eventually dropped.

He has maintained throughout the years that he is not the man in the video. The prosecution is further challenged by the fact that the alleged victim, a woman now 23-years-old, also denies being in the video. Law-enforcement officials say the video in question was made between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1, 2000.

The 41-year-old singer, real name Robert Kelly, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Repeated delays have pushed the child pornography trial some six years. Kelly’s lawyers asked for another delay last week, arguing that the recent news coverage would hinder a fair trial.



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