Friday, May 16, 2008
DRIP DRIP DRIP: R. KELLY'S JURY SELECTION IS OVER. BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM
Posted by THE fly GIRL at 10:35 AM
Jury selection in the R. Kelly case wrapped up Thursday -- but not before the defense howled in protest over the process.
Eight men and four women will decide if R&B superstar Kelly is guilty of child pornography charges. Before the panel was finalized, Kelly's lawyers accused prosecutors of deliberately removing black jurors. And they objected when Judge Vincent Gaughan allowed a rape victim on the jury.
At one point Thursday, the prosecution moved to dismiss a black man -- his hair in cornrows like Kelly's -- because of his criminal record. Defense attorney Sam Adam Sr. stood up.
"They're using these [challenges] to get rid of African Americans," Adam thundered.
"You haven't said anything about all the white males you've dismissed," Gaughan said.
"They've used 50 percent of their challenges on African Americans," Adam protested.
Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Boliker responded that all six of the defense's peremptory challenges -- strikes that usually require no explanation -- had removed whites from the jury.
Later, Adam objected to the prosecution removing another black man. The prosecution said the man had concealed a criminal record when filling out his questionnaire, and Gaughan dismissed him for "dishonesty."
A person who, according to Gaughan, was self-identified as a rape victim on the jury questionnaire made it onto the panel in spite of objections from defense lawyer Ed Genson.
Genson asked that "given the nature of this prosecution" Gaughan remove the victim "for cause," since the defense had used all of its peremptory strikes.
Gaughan denied Genson's request, saying the victim had looked Kelly in the eye and promised him a fair trial.
Kelly, 41, is charged with videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. He has pleaded not guilty.
Eight men and four women will decide if R&B superstar Kelly is guilty of child pornography charges. Before the panel was finalized, Kelly's lawyers accused prosecutors of deliberately removing black jurors. And they objected when Judge Vincent Gaughan allowed a rape victim on the jury.
At one point Thursday, the prosecution moved to dismiss a black man -- his hair in cornrows like Kelly's -- because of his criminal record. Defense attorney Sam Adam Sr. stood up.
"They're using these [challenges] to get rid of African Americans," Adam thundered.
"You haven't said anything about all the white males you've dismissed," Gaughan said.
"They've used 50 percent of their challenges on African Americans," Adam protested.
Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Boliker responded that all six of the defense's peremptory challenges -- strikes that usually require no explanation -- had removed whites from the jury.
Later, Adam objected to the prosecution removing another black man. The prosecution said the man had concealed a criminal record when filling out his questionnaire, and Gaughan dismissed him for "dishonesty."
A person who, according to Gaughan, was self-identified as a rape victim on the jury questionnaire made it onto the panel in spite of objections from defense lawyer Ed Genson.
Genson asked that "given the nature of this prosecution" Gaughan remove the victim "for cause," since the defense had used all of its peremptory strikes.
Gaughan denied Genson's request, saying the victim had looked Kelly in the eye and promised him a fair trial.
Kelly, 41, is charged with videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. He has pleaded not guilty.
The jury of eight whites and four blacks includes:
* An African-American woman whose husband is a Baptist pastor
* An African-American man who identified himself as a Christian
* A white male executive with two kids who said he thinks Kelly is guilty and that "child pornography is about as low as it gets"
* A 20-something white woman studying criminal justice who wants to be a police officer
* An African-American man who is a culinary student
* A white man who has served on two civil juries that arrived at a verdict
* A black woman who is a teacher's assistant at a Catholic school
* A white male compliance officer at a downtown investment firm who had an "Impeach Bush" button on his book bag
* A white woman who works in a suburban high school
* A 68-year-old man who emigrated to the United States from Romania
* A white man who recently graduated from the University of Kansas and was once arrested for marijuana possession
* A white male with a goatee whose brother was once turned down for a job with the state's attorney's office
Kelly's attorney did however, fail to get either T-Pain or Lil' Wayne as alternates for a possible "Jury Remix" should the verdict come back unfavorable.
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