Judge in R. Kelly case again denies request for doctor's testimony
The judge presiding over R. Kelly's child pornography case again rejected the prosecution's request to have a doctor testify about why the girl in the case would deny she was the victim.
Kelly, an R&B star, faces charges he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl, who could have been as young as 13. After five years of delay, the case is set for trial on May 9.
(Brian Jackson/Sun-Times)
The girl allegedly shown in the tape has denied she was involved. So prosecutors want Dr. Sharon Cooper, a forensic and developmental pediatrician, to testify that such denials are not unusual for victims of child abuse.
But Judge Vincent Gaughan, who had already denied the prosecutors' request once, reaffirmed his ruling today. "This doctor coming on would really be coming on to discuss credibility, and that's not beyond the ken of the jury," Gaughan said.
R. Kelly's defense lawyer, Ed Genson, said cases cited by prosecutors as precedent did not apply. "There's a specific denial [by the girl] in front of the grand jury," Genson said.
Kelly, who risked arrest last month when he missed a court date, showed up wearing a gray suit and a striped tie. He remained silent during Monday's brief hearing. His next court date is March 12.