Article Author:
Associated Press
Michael Term and Don Babwin
CHICAGO (AP) — Opening statements, set for Wednesday, will have prosecutors and R. Kelly's attorney address the jury directly Give first chance. R&B singer accused of soliciting minors into sex, creating child pornography and rigging 2008 porn trial.
Both the prosecution and Kelly's legal team gave the judges early in the week about 1 each to tell the jurors about kind evidence they could expect to see and hear. He said he wanted time.The proving phase of the trial is expected to last about a month.
Kelly's attorneys for her two co-defendants will also address jurors before the government begins calling witnesses later Wednesday. Prosecutors have not disclosed who they will call first.
On Tuesday night, prosecutors and defense attorneys debated toward the end of the process whether the government was improperly trying to keep some black people out of jurors.
Kelly, who is black, was acquitted of charges of soliciting a minor for sex, creating child pornography, and amending a 2008 state child pornography trial.
When both sides launched compulsory appeals, meaning that a certain number of potential jurors could be excluded from the pool, Kelly's attorney, Jennifer Bonjeen, said: He accused prosecutors of trying to attack black people. fellow.
Prosecutors pointed out that several African Americans had already been on the jury before the defense objected, and they attacked some. In one case, one elderly man appeared to be struggling to stay awake.
Harry Leinen Judge Weber partly agreed with the defense, not allowing the prosecutor to take three blacks from the jury and put them back. About half of his 12 jurors who were impeached were identified as black by judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Six alternates were also selected.
Some of the jurors selected saw at least a portion of her six-part documentary series, Surviving R. Kelly, on sexual abuse allegations against the Grammy-winning singer. something happened. As long as a would-be juror could assure Judge Reinenweber that he was fair, seeing it didn't automatically disqualify him.
Among his twelve jurors selected was a retired realtor with a son who was a prosecutor and a son who was a defense attorney. Another juror was the librarian.
Among those fired were a woman who said she viewed police and judges unfavorably, and a man who said he thought the IRS shouldn't exist. there was
One of her central focal points in the trial was Kelly blackmailing a girl under the age of 14 who allegedly videotaped her having sex with her around the age of 30. , whether paid her money or not. Accusation against Kelly, conspiracy to obstruct her justice.
A jury in a child pornography trial in 2008 acquitted Kelly. Some jurors then explained that they felt they had no choice because the girl did not testify.
When she testifies, prosecutors said in court on Monday that her real name would not be used. I explained that I would not refer to them as Minor 1. Her pseudonym is Jane. Kelly's attorney suggested that he could contest whether some of his accusers were minors at the time. ... convicted in 2021 and sentenced to one year in prison for using fame to sexually abuse other young fans.
Kelly, who rose out of poverty to become a star singer, songwriter and producer on Chicago's South Side, was about 80 years old before he was eligible for early release under a sentence imposed in New York. will be
Kelly faces four lawsuits against her for inducement to have sex with a minor. They are also expected to testify.
Two of Kelly's colleagues, Derell McDavid and Milton Brown, are co-defendants in the Chicago trial. McDavid was accused of helping Kelly fix a 2008 trial, and Brown was charged with receiving child pornography.Like Kelly, they also deny any wrongdoing.
Minor 1 is expected to testify that she was seen on video having sex with Kelly. The recording was central to her month-long trial in 2008 and was played almost daily for the jury. Prosecutors say Kelly threatened her Minor 1 and her parents not to testify in her 2008 and asked for her payment.
——
