In This Article
Subscribe to Entertainment Updates
First Jurors Selected for R. Kelly Trial
May 12, 2008 6:45 PM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
by findingDulcinea staff
The wife of a Baptist preacher, a business executive and a telecommunications company employee have thus far been selected for the singer’s long-awaited child pornography trial.
The wife of a Baptist preacher, a business executive and a telecommunications company employee have thus far been selected for the singer’s long-awaited child pornography trial.
Email This30-Second Summary
Those three are the first to be selected from a pool of 150 potential jurors in the case against Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Robert “R” Kelly. The process began on May 9 and is expected to take about a week.
The high-profile nature of the trial is making jury selection a challenge for both the prosecution and the defense, reports MTV News. Experts say that attitudes about sex, celebrities and police will be the most relevant topics during jury questioning, not gender or race.
“What we have to look at is life experience. That’s what’s going to influence the way they respond to the evidence in the case, not just whether they are of one race or one religion or another. The bottom line is, cases like this trigger certain underlying issues, deep issues about racial prejudice and underage sexual relations,” says Chicago jury consultant and defense attorney Paul Lisnek.
R. Kelly, 40, is accused of videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl. He faces 14 counts of child pornography, including seven for directing and seven for producing. He has pleaded not guilty and faces 15 years in jail and a $100,000 fine.
Nonetheless, the singer has continued to record music and tour since being indicted. He recently released the single “Hair Braider,” from his album “12 Play: Fourth Quarter.”
The high-profile nature of the trial is making jury selection a challenge for both the prosecution and the defense, reports MTV News. Experts say that attitudes about sex, celebrities and police will be the most relevant topics during jury questioning, not gender or race.
“What we have to look at is life experience. That’s what’s going to influence the way they respond to the evidence in the case, not just whether they are of one race or one religion or another. The bottom line is, cases like this trigger certain underlying issues, deep issues about racial prejudice and underage sexual relations,” says Chicago jury consultant and defense attorney Paul Lisnek.
R. Kelly, 40, is accused of videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl. He faces 14 counts of child pornography, including seven for directing and seven for producing. He has pleaded not guilty and faces 15 years in jail and a $100,000 fine.
Nonetheless, the singer has continued to record music and tour since being indicted. He recently released the single “Hair Braider,” from his album “12 Play: Fourth Quarter.”
Headline Link: ‘Three Jurors Chosen for R. Kelly’s Trial’
So far, the wife of a Baptist preacher, a business executive and a telecommunications company employee have been chosen for R. Kelly’s child pornography trial in Chicago.
Source: Indiana CBS affiliate WTHITV (The Associated Press)
Related Topics: ‘R. Kelly’s High-Profile Case Makes Jury Selection Challenging for Both Sides’
California defense attorney Steve Cron said that a person would have to be “living under a rock” to be unfamiliar with the case, which was first reported on about six years ago. “You either have to say, ‘R. Kelly can never get a fair trial here,’ or ‘R. Kelly can get a fair trial, given the continuing publicity,’” said Cron. “Because when will you ever not have some publicity? It’s never going to go away.”
Source: MTV News
Background: ‘R. Kelly To Be Tried on Child Pornography Charges’
CNN reported in 2007 that R. Kelly’s trial would begin in September, five years after the accusations against him were first made. At that point, the trial had already been delayed by arguments over when the video was created and an incident in which the judge had an accident and needed to recuperate.
Source: CNN
Reference: Robert “R” Kelly and his Hip-Hopera
R. Kelly’s MySpace page currently showcases his new single “Hair Braider” from his album “12 Play: Fourth Quarter”
Source: MySpace
R. Kelly’s official Web site makes no mention of the singer’s legal problems.
Source: R. Kelly's official Web site
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine named R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” one of its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was ranked number 406.
Source: Rolling Stone
The Web site of the Independent Film Channel provides all 22 chapters of R. Kelly’s infamous Hip-Hopera, “Trapped in the Closet.”
Source: Independent Film Channel
© 2008 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
