Jury selection starts in R Kelly porn trial

CHICAGO – Attorneys in R&B superstar R Kelly’s child pornography trial were yesterday expected to begin questioning 150 potential jurors, and it’s unlikely any of his fans will be chosen to hear 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 charges that he videotaped himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. 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 practised for 35 years.”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 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 on 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.Nampa-APThe 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 practised for 35 years.”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 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 on 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.Nampa-AP

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