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Jury selection begins in R. Kelly child pornography case



By MICHAEL TARM, AP
09 May 2008 @ 03:16 pm EST


R Kelly Trial
Singer R. Kelly leaves after the first day of jury selection in his child pornography trial at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, Friday, May 9, 2008. Jury selection began Friday in the child pornography trial of Grammy-winning artist R. Kelly who is accused of having sex with a girl as young as 13 on videotape. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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The trial's centerpiece is the video footage, which Gaughan ruled may be shown in open court.

Prosecutors claim the videotape was made sometime between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1 2000, and that the girl was born in September 1984. Kelly was indicted on pornography charges June 5, 2002, after the tape surfaced.

It is unclear whether prosecutors have asked -or would be allowed -to tell jurors about accusations that Kelly allegedly had sexual relations with other minors, because some of the trial proceedings have been kept secret by the judge.

Media outlets, including The Associated Press, have filed a motion seeking to get court records and hearing transcripts unsealed. Gaughan has said he would rule on that motion May 16.

Gaughan, who has imposed a gag order, also said he would later rule on a defense motion to consider appointing a special prosecutor to investigate apparent leaks to the Sun-Times.

Once the trial gets under way, it is expected to last at least several weeks.

Although he won a Grammy in 1997 for the gospel-like song "I Believe I Can Fly," Kelly's biggest hits are sexually charged songs like "Bump N' Grind," "Ignition" and his current single, "Hair Braider." He is due to release a new album in July.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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