Jury selection begins in R. Kelly child pornography case

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)

CHICAGO—Until the last minute, it still wasn't clear that it would go ahead. But after nearly six years of delays, R. Kelly's child pornography trial finally got under way Friday as the court began selecting a jury.

About 150 potential jurors packed into the courtroom to hear the judge read the 14-count indictment against the 41-year-old R&B superstar, who is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13.

The initial session with potential jurors in the stately courtroom lasted only about 30 minutes, and reporters were not allowed in; one court official said there weren't enough seats.

Some potential jurors looked uncomfortable, and at least a few placed their hands over their eyes as the judge read some of the more graphic sections of the indictments, said Verna Sadock, a sketch artist who was in the room.

Each count is only a few sentences long and does not go into details about the allegations or possible evidence.

Earlier in the day, Kelly sat expressionless in court, wearing a silver-blue suit and a gold tie, and sporting cornrow braids. But as the judge introduced the Grammy-winning artist to jurors as Robert Kelly, he made a slight bow in their direction, smiled and said, "Hello," Sadock said.

The potential jurors -- some carrying bags and coats, and many looking serious and even glum -- later filed out of the fifth-floor courtroom to fill out questionnaires for the next stage of jury selection. The questionnaires were not made public.

There was no afternoon session scheduled Friday, and jurors were due back in court Monday morning.

Before jury selection began, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Vincent Gaughan denied a defense motion to postpone the trial again because of intense publicity, appearing to accept arguments from the prosecution that the selection process could weed out any tainted jurors.

But defense attorney Marc Martin said the jury pool had been "irrevocably poisoned" by a front-page story in Friday's Chicago Sun-Times that cited unnamed sources talking about a potential witness.

Many of the potential jurors would have read the article on the way to the courthouse, Martin said.

"There is no escaping the fact that the Sun-Times will be in every news box in Cook County," said Martin, adding that the contents of the story were also broadcast on TV and radio stations. "I heard it when I was putting on my tie this morning."

"Somebody out there is trying to sabotage Mr. Kelly's right to a fair trial," Martin said.

As he arrived at the courthouse, Kelly didn't acknowledge the crowd outside as he walked through a special entrance. One raucous onlooker shouted, "I love you"; another shouted, "R. Kelly's a pedophile."

Once a jury is in place, prosecutors will have to surmount several hurdles if they hope to prevail.

Chief among them is that the alleged victim, now 23, says it wasn't her. And Kelly's lawyers -- including prominent Chicago attorney Ed Genson -- haven't admitted it's Kelly in the video.

Kelly, who has pleaded not guilty, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

The centerpiece of the trial 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.

Some of the trial proceedings have been kept secret by the judge, and it's unclear whether prosecutors have sought -- or been granted -- permission to tell jurors about accusations that Kelly had sexual relations with other minors.

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.

Reporters complained Friday about being keep out of the courtroom as the judge read the indictment to jurors.

One attorney for the news media in their motion to get access to the records and transcripts said it wasn't clear whether Gaughan intended to keep reporters out.

"It was possibly inadvertent, but the press obviously should have been there," said Damon Dunn. "Criminal trials are constitutionally required to be public. And the public can only attend the trial through the press."

Although Kelly won a Grammy in 1997 for the gospel-like song "I Believe I Can Fly," his 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.