Prosecutor Wants R. Kelly Jurors Identify Protected - Noise11.com
R.Kelly, music news, noise11.com

R.Kelly

Prosecutor Wants R. Kelly Jurors Identify Protected

by Music-News.com on July 10, 2020

in News

Federal prosecutors are seeking to keep the identity of potential jurors in R. Kelly’s upcoming New York sex trial hidden amid obstruction of justice concerns.

Authorities fear members of Kelly’s team could attempt to interfere with the judicial process and are asking to keep identities, addresses, and places of employment of jury pool members under wraps from both the defence and prosecution, insisting they do not need to be disclosed during the jury selection process.

In legal papers obtained by TMZ, federal officials point to evidence of previous attempts by Kelly and his associates to obstruct proceedings, branding the embattled singer “the leader of a racketeering enterprise he created and used for decades to sexually abuse and exploit women and girls for his own sexual gratification, including through the use of bribery, kidnapping and forced labor”.

They are also requesting to have the potential jurors escorted in and out of the courthouse by U.S. Marshals, and made to eat lunch together behind closed doors to avoid being hounded by the press.

“These measures are necessary to safeguard the jurors and the fair administration of process,” prosecutors add.

A ruling has yet to be made, but Kelly’s lawyer, Steven Greenberg, is protesting the idea of keeping information about prospective jurors secret.

“It’s absurd not to know where people are from or what kind of employment they are engaging in. Those are essential things to understand – how people think and view things,” he complained to TMZ. “Imagine if there’s an FBI agent on the jury or a district attorney or someone who works for a battered woman’s shelter.”

Of the obstruction of justice worries, Greenberg added: “The stuff about Kelly tampering and being dangerous is just a regurgitation of their same argument which we disagreed with all along.”

Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy. He is accused of grooming underage girls attending his concerts for sexual abuse, and is set to stand trial in September.

Kelly is also facing a string of federal sex counts in Illinois, where he has been behind bars since last year.

music-news.com

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Oasis photo by Simon Emmett
Oasis Kick Off First Show Since 2009 in Wales #SETLIST

Oasis have performed the first show on the Oasis Live 25 world tour in Cardiff, Wales.

2 days ago
Usher Cancels All 12 Australian Tour Dates

Usher has cancelled his 12 Australian concerts in November and December.

3 days ago
Dave Grohl Foo Fighters at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 30 January 2018. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Dave Grohl Honors Taylor Hawkins on 30th Anniversary of Foo Fighters Album

Dave Grohl has paid tribute to Taylor Hawkins while marking the 30th anniversary of the Foo Fighters' self-titled debut album.

3 days ago
Russell Hitchcock Take Time
Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply Solo Album ‘Take Time’ To Be Reissued

Russell Hitchcock’s second solo album ‘Take Time’ will have a limited reissue through MelodicRock Classics.

4 days ago
Diddy Facebook photo
Sean Combs Charged With Prostitution But Escapes Racketeering

Rapper, entrepreneur Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been found guilty on charges of Prostitution but has avoid the more serious charges of Racketeering and Sex Trafficking.

4 days ago
Oasis Whats The Story Morning Glory
Oasis Expand ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’ For 30th Anniversary

Oasis have an expanded edition of ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’ on the way to mark the 30th anniversary of the release.

5 days ago
Diddy Facebook photo
UPDATE: Sean Combs Found Guilty of Two of Five Charges

The jury looking into the alleged crimes of Sean Diddy Combs have reached a decision on four of the five counts but have not agreed on the fifth charge of racketeering conspiracy.

5 days ago