Some might say it’s about time: After almost five years, jury selection has begun in the R. Kelly child pornography case. According to reports in “The Chicago Tribune“, Kelly and his attorneys attended a brief hearing in a Chicago courtroom on Friday, where lawyers for both sides submitted jury questionnaires to Cook County Criminal Court Judge Vincent Gaughan. On Wednesday, the opposing attorneys met with the judge again to decide on one form with a combination of questions that will be used to select potential jurors.
Kelly, the self-proclaimed “King of R&B,” is charged with 14 counts of child pornography, brought against him in 2002 for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl.
The court hearings of the past few days mark the first real movement in years since Kelly was indicted. It could mean that the singer, who has always professed his innocence, will finally have his day in court.
Living under a cloud of suspicion, however, hasn’t stopped him from making money. His latest album, “Double Up“, took the No. 1 spot on the “Billboard” 200 charts in June, and he recently inked a deal with the Independent Film Channel for 10 new episodes of his “Trapped in the Closet” video saga, which is set to be released on DVD in August.