Jurors chosen in R Kelly porn trial
Attorneys and the judge in R&B superstar R Kelly's child pornography trial have begun questioning 150 potential jurors, asking them what they know about the allegations against one of urban music's biggest stars.
The 41-year-old, known for sexually charged hits like Bump N' Grind, has pleaded not guilty to widely publicised charges that he videotaped himself having sex with a girl as young as 13.
Kelly remained pokerfaced in court, appearing at times to scan the faces of the potential jurors and occasionally leaning over to speak with his lawyers.
The selection of the 16 jurors, four of them alternates, will be key for both prosecutors and defence attorneys, said Steve Cron, a defence lawyer from Santa Monica, California, who has practiced for 35 years.
More News
Related Links
Have Your Say
"In a case where a celebrity has good and bad public images, it's critical," said Cron, who has no link to the Kelly case.
It's unlikely the defence could pack the jury with R Kelly fans, because "the prosecution should be successful in excluding them," he said.
Prosecutors may seek well-educated jurors, which could help their cause if they call technical experts to speak about the videotape, he said.
When the trial gets under way, prosecutors will face a daunting challenge: The girl believed to be on the videotape, who is now 23, says it wasn't her. And Kelly's lawyers - including prominent Chicago attorney Ed Genson - haven't conceded it's Kelly in the video.
Prosecutors say the videotape was made between January 1 1998 and November 1 2000, and that the girl who appears in it was born in September 1984. Kelly was indicted on pornography charges June 5, 2002, after the tape surfaced.
If jurors find the Grammy-winning artist guilty, he could go to prison for up to 15 years.
- Post:
del.icio.us
Digg
Netscape
Newsvine
Now Public- Q&A