The judge in R. Kelly’s child pornography case has allowed prosecutors to add two people to their list of witnesses in advance of the May 9 trial, reports the Chicago Tribune.
Both are expected to corroborate prosecutors’ claims about the identity of the girl, who allegedly was videotaped having sex with the singer, sources told the newspaper. The girl whom prosecutors believe was in the video has denied that it was her. In January, the judge rebuffed a bid by prosecutors to allow an expert to testify about the girl’s denial.
Sources said both witnesses knew Kelly and the girl about the time the video was made. One witness has worked for Kelly and had met the girl. The other was a friend of the girl and had met Kelly, sources said.
Kelly’s lawyer, Edward Genson, said in court Wednesday that he already had interviewed one of the new witnesses, who both sides said was from the Chicago area. But he said he had no information about the second person. Gaughan said both sides could question the two witnesses before the start of the trial, according to the Tribune.
The judge called the prosecution’s last-minute request to add witnesses “extraordinary.” Although he approved the new witnesses, he said he didn’t want to push back the trial, noting that the case has come up on his docket 112 times. Both sides will be back in court April 1 to discuss jury instructions.
Kelly, dressed in a dark brown suit and silver tie, appeared in court but did not speak. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces up to 15 years behind bars if convicted.
Information from the Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.
