A juror in R Kelly’s latest criminal trial has been dismissed from the case after reportedly suffering a panic attack.
The I Believe I Can Fly singer – real name Robert Sylvester Kelly – is currently facing child pornography and obstruction of justice charges in Chicago.
Kelly, 55, is facing 13 counts including creating and receiving child pornography, obstruction of justice and enticing minors into sexual activity.
He has denied all charges.
It is separate to Kelly’s New York trial in June, which culminated with the singer being sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
On Monday, the prosecution rested their case before the defence teams began their closing arguments.
However, one of the jurors – a white woman reported to work for a public library – is said to have suffered a panic attack during a break in proceedings.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the juror told courtroom personnel that she ‘doesn’t think she can go on one minute more’ and that even waiting overnight would not help.
US District Judge Harry Leinenweber reportedly informed the courtroom that, following a short discussion, the woman was being replaced by an alternate juror, with her stand-in said to be a white man possibly in his 60s.
‘My inclination is to excuse her,’ Leinenweber reportedly told the court.
It’s said that both jurors stated they have not seen the docu-series Surviving R Kelly, which features multiple claims of sexual abuse from women about the R&B singer.
Monday’s court proceedings featured around four hours of closing arguments, with prosecutors kicking off the day followed by the lawyer for Kelly’s ex-business manager, Derrel McDavid, and former employee Milton ‘June’ Brown.
Court was adjourned until 9am on Tuesday when Kelly’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, is expected to begin her closing argument.
However, it could be some time before the case rests for jury deliberations as the prosecution will be given the chance for rebuttal, while the judge also has to deliver jury instructions.
During the trial, the court heard how a woman claimed she had sex with Kelly ‘hundreds of times’ before she was 18 years old. The woman in question – known only as Jane – alleged that she started sleeping with the musician when she was just 15.
The trial continues.
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