Not a huge amount of new news on the ongoing R Kelly trial this morning, except that the judge hearing the case – Judge Vincent Gaughan – has ruled that the journalist who first handed the sex tape at the heart of the case over to the police, Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis, must testify. Kelly's defence want to question DeRogatis, who says an anonymous tipster left a copy of the video in his mail box. The paper's attorney said that the journalist was protected by the Illinois reporter's privilege and the First Amendment, and shouldn't have to take to the witness stand. But Gaughan said that while the law protected the journalist was having to reveal the identity of his sources – not that he seemingly knows who his source is anyway – it didn't mean he could refuse to testify at all. The paper argued anything DeRogatis could offer would be "irrelevant" to Kelly's defence, but the R&B star's lawyers will be able to question him nevertheless. The case continues this week.
Jun 2, 2008
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1 min read
Journalist who acquired the video must testify in R Kelly trial
Judge Vincent Gaughan has ruled that Chicago Sun-Times critic Jim DeRogatis must testify in the R Kelly trial, despite press protections.