Why R. Kelly’s New York Trial Has Been Pushed Back
R. Kelly’s New York trial has been postponed to September. The incarcerated R&B singer was originally set to appear in court on July 7 but now his court appearance has reportedly now been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
During a telephone conference call on Thursday (April 16), Judge Ann Donnelly announced that Kelly’s trial has been tentatively rescheduled to September 29. Although, Donnelly and Kelly’s legal team acknowledged that his trial date could be moved again depending on when the courts are able to resume normally, Page Six reports.
The 52-year-old is currently being held at Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center without bail as he awaits trial. He is facing several sex crime charges, including child pornography, racketeering, and sex trafficking, across New York, Minnesota and Chicago. The court date for his Chicago trial is set for October 13. Kelly has continued to deny the allegations.
This latest development comes amid Kelly’s repeated attempts to be temporarily released into home confinement.
About a week ago, Donnelly shot down the disgraced R&B singer’s request, saying he posed “a flight risk.” She also noted that there was a possibility he might attempt to intimidate witnesses if let free.
On Thursday (April 16), Variety reported that his legal team had filed a second request, citing the Bureau of Prisons’ recent statistics of 500 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 17 deaths, across facilities nationwide. Of those, 13 cases were reportedly at the prison where Kelly is housed.
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