R. Kelly witness list grows

COURTS | Judge OKs 2 more for trial

The judge in R. Kelly's child pornography case on Wednesday granted prosecutors' request to add two witnesses for the R&B singer's upcoming trial -- though he called the request "extraordinary."

"This case has been on my [court] call 112 times," Judge Vincent Gaughan said. Kelly was charged more than five years ago, and the trial has been delayed repeatedly.

"This is very extraordinary. There's been a certificate of readiness filed by both sides," Gaughan said.

The case, which has been pending since 2002, is set for trial May 9.

The papers requesting the additional witnesses were put under seal and the case's lawyers are subject to a gag order.

One source said the two witnesses are former R. Kelly employees -- something a member of Kelly's defense team denied. The source added the employees' testimony would be "not good" for the defense.

Kelly, 41, is charged with child pornography for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with a girl estimated to be 13 or 14. He has pleaded not guilty.

Kelly's defense lawyer Ed Genson objected to adding the new witnesses. "We had understood the list was complete a while back," Genson said. "As to both witnesses, we have no paper. . . . No police report work."

Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Boliker said the two witnesses had come forward just recently.

"They just recently came into our knowledge," Boliker said. "We did not mean to blindside your honor."

Gaughan said he would allow Kelly's defense team to take witnesses' depositions.