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Artist News Legal
Jury selected for R Kelly’s New York trial
By Chris Cooke | Published on Thursday 12 August 2021
Jury selection in the first of the R Kelly sex abuse trials was completed yesterday, with opening statements in the New York case scheduled to begin next week.
Judge Ann Donnelly swore in the twelve person jury – made up of seven men and five women – following a three day selection process during which dozens of potential jurors were questioned.
Donnelly obviously needed assurances from all of those who will sit on the jury that they will be able to remain impartial, despite the intense media coverage of the case ever since Kelly was charged in 2019. Many of those selected said that they had not really followed much of that coverage and therefore knew very little about the case.
The musician faces a stack of charges for sexual abuse, including against minors, and other alleged crimes, both in New York state and elsewhere. He continues to insist he is innocent of all charges.
The jury will remain anonymous and will be partially sequestered throughout the trial, being escorted to and from the courthouse each day by US Marshals.
Prosecutors have repeatedly expressed concern that Kelly and his associates might try to intimidate people linked to the trial, which is the main reason why the musician has been held in custody ever since he was charged.
