R. Kelly’s sex trafficking and racketeering case was scheduled for July but got pushed back due to COVID-19. On Thursday, a Judge ruled the case will officially go on trial in April.
What We Know:
- The case’s jury will be selected over the course of 10 days in mid-March according to District Court Judge Ann Donnelly. The exact trial date has been set for April 7. She also approved prosecutor’s motion for an anonymous jury, considering Kelly’s past intimidation tactics.
- In 2008, the former R&B icon was on trial for child pornography but was acquitted on all charges after he allegedly tried to influence jury members. Prosecutors wrote, “Simply put, the defendant’s past behavior reveals that if given the opportunity to influence a potential witness, the defendant will take it, and his incarceration may not be enough to prevent such conduct.” Donnelly agreed that given how serious his charges are combined with Kelly’s history of “obstructing the judicial process”, the jury’s anonymity is appropriate.
- Once selected, the jurors will be “partially sequestered”. Federal agents will escort the jury members in and out the courthouse each day of the trial. The U.S. Marshals will also ensure that no outside influence, including individuals of the media, bother anyone in the jury.
- In addition to this upcoming Brooklyn trial, Kelly faces charges in two other states. In 2019, a Minnesota prosecutor charged him with soliciting a minor and prostitution from an alleged 2001 incident. Along with New York prosecutors, also last year, federal agents in Chicago indicted the singer on 18 charges consisting of kidnapping, the production of child pornography, racketeering, child sexual exploitation, forced labor, and obstruction of justice.
- Kelly is currently in Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center and has been denied several release requests. In recent times, the appeals court denied his sixth bid for early prison release in regards to coronavirus concerns. Appeals court called Kelly a flight risk and a potential danger to society. Despite being a flight risk, Donnelly once again highlighted the defendant’s likeliness to “intimidate prospective witnesses”.
Recently, prosecutors claim 3 men were arrested for attempting to threaten and bribe Kelly’s accusers.
