Sunday 15 June 2008

Journalist in R Kelly trial ordered to testify

A journalist who received the videotape at the centre of the R Kelly trial has been ordered to testify in court. Jim Derogatis, a reporter and music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, was due to give evidence yesterday but failed to show up in court. He had hoped to avoid taking the stand on the grounds that it would be a "serious breach of his statutory rights and his constitutional rights". Judge Vincent Gaughan responded to the request by DeRogatis's lawyer by saying, "I think you're making a little of Illinois law up today."












In 2002, DeRogitis handed a videotape to police that allegedly showed R Kelly engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl. DeRogitis claimed it had been posted to him anonymously. The judge rejected a claim from DeRogatis's lawyer that his rights as a reporter would be violated if he testified. The prosecution rested its case against R Kelly on Monday. They have so far called various witnesses to confirm the identity of the people on the tape and heard evidence from an FBI forensics expert to clarify whether the man on the tape is R Kelly. The singer denies it is him. The defence will begin presenting their case today.

R Kelly pleads not guilty to 14 charges of child pornography relating to the tape in question. If found guilty, he could face up to 15 years in prison. DeRogatis is due to testify today.


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