On Thursday, November 19, a judge scheduled Kelly’s sex trafficking and racketeering case to begin next year.
R. Kelly’s sex trafficking and racketeering case in Brooklyn is scheduled to go to trial in early April, a judge ordered Thursday.
Jurors for the case will be selected over the course of 10 days in March and the trial is scheduled to begin by April 7, according to the order by District Judge Ann Donnelly.
In an earlier order, Judge Donnelly said the jury will be anonymous and partially sequestered.
“The government has established that empaneling an anonymous and partially sequestered jury is warranted,” wrote Donnelly.
She added that US Marshals would escort the panel in and out of the Brooklyn federal courthouse each day and sequester them during breaks to protect them from outside influence.
Prosecutors, who requested the extra measures be taken, argued that R. Kelly has a history of pressuring accusers and others to keep himself from having to face justice.
In his 2008 child pornography trial in Chicago, which ended in an acquittal, he allegedly tried to influence the jury, said prosecutors in Brooklyn.
They further argued that three associates of the singer were recently arrested trying to bribe and threaten R. Kelly’s accusers.
