R. Kelly submits notable demand amid trial’s jury selection: Details

Disgraced R&B singer, R. Kelly, who has been convicted of sex offending and racketeering is facing a second trial in Chicago after a gap of 14 years. However, he has made a special demand to the court amid the ongoing jury selection in his case. TMZ reports that he wants the court to disallow from the jury pool any individual who has seen the docuseries Surviving R. Kelly. The 55-year-old singer is of the opinion that anyone who has watched this series will always be partial against him.

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TMZ quotes a legal document submitted by Kelly’s legal team in this regard, “any potential juror who has watched any portion of this docuseries must be disqualified for cause on whether they can be fair, too great a risk exists that such a juror would base their verdict on matters not introduced into evidence in the courtroom”.

The charges Kelly, his former manager Derrel McDavid, as well as an associate called Milton “June” Brown are facing include obstruction of justice and child pornography. The New York federal court had earlier announced a sentence of 30 years against Kelly, and if he loses this trial in Chicago, decades could be added to his jail sentence. Notably, Kelly is being represented by Jennifer Bonjean, the celebrity lawyer who had also fought for convicted sex offender and comedian, Bill Cosby.

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During the ongoing trial, the prosecution might present to the court four videotapes that show Kelly sexually assaulting a minor. The victim is supposed to identify herself via a recording and is expected to testify, along with her mother, about the tactics deployed by Kelly and his associates in order to prevent them from appearing before the court.

A total of 60 potential jurors were interviewed by U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber on Monday and more such interviews are scheduled for Tuesday as well. The opening statements from both parties will also be made on Tuesday.