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Date: Dec 23, 2007 08:58
R. Kelly Child-Pornography Trial To Begin May 9
Also on Friday, R&B star avoided having bond revoked.
By Chris Harris, with additional reporting by Jennifer Vineyard
After years of incessant delays, R. Kelly's child-pornography case will finally commence May 9. The
trial had previously been scheduled for September 17 but was postponed early that month because the
lead prosecutor had recently given birth.
Kelly also avoided having his bond revoked Friday morning. Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan had
threatened to do so after chiding the singer for missing a hearing on Wednesday after his tour bus
was stopped in Utah for a speeding infraction. An arrest warrant had been issued for the R&B
singer, who avoided going to jail when he showed for a 9 a.m. court date on Thursday, but Gaughan
threatened to revoke the bond anyway.
Also on Friday, Gaughan considered forcing Kelly to call off his U.S. tour but didn't follow
through with the punishment. Gaughan said he decided on leniency because of the "unintended
consequences" of canceling such an event, including disappointing fans and a loss of income for
venue workers.
The judge did, however, order him to cancel a January 13 concert in Hampton, Virginia, to ensure
Kelly doesn't miss his next court appearance on January 14, the paper reports. He performed Friday
night in Chicago.
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