R. Kelly managed to evade jail by appearing in court yesterday (Thursday), but not without reprimand for his tardiness. The judge presiding over his child pornography case said he’ll consider revoking the singer’s bond despite his excuse: The police made him late.
Judge Vincent Gaughan said he was “very disappointed” that Kelly, in the midst of a concert tour, failed to show up for a scheduled Wednesday appearance.
Kelly attorney Ed Genson explained his client was tardy because police who pulled over his bus in Utah discovered the logbook didn’t document enough rest for the driver and ordered it stopped for eight hours.
Gaughan admonished the R&B superstar in court anyway, saying he’ll decide today (Friday) whether to revoke his bond and will also set a trial date.
At Thursday’s hearing, prosecutors said during the trial they would not refer to vein patterns on the singer’s hands as a way to identify Kelly in the video that is at the core of their case.
Defense attorneys had argued that identification based on vein patterns wasn’t reliable.
Kelly’s attorneys haven’t even conceded he is on the videotape, saying his likeness may have been computer generated. They have also tried to raise doubts about the identity and age of the girl in the recording.
