Singer R. Kelly was denied bail on Thursday but was given a little more time to prepare for his forthcoming trial.
U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly ruled that jury selection would continue on August 9th as initially planned but agreed to postpone opening statements until August 18th to allow one of Kelly’s new attorneys, Devereaux Cannick, time to prepare.
The lawyers argued that the 54-year-old should be released to assist them with his defense better since they have had difficulty accessing him due to COVID-19 protocols. However, Donnelly quickly shot down their bail petition, assuring them that they would have all of the time they needed with Kelly before trial.
This latest development comes as the “Ignition” star’s legal team remains at odds with one another. During the hearing, Kelly’s lawyer Thomas Farinella claimed that another member of the defense team, Steven Greenberg, deliberately held legal documents from the singer.
For weeks, the team has accused one another of misconduct and incompetence. The tension came to a head last month when Greenberg and attorney Mike Leonard asked to be withdrawn from the case.
R. Kelly is facing a slew of sexual abuse charges stemming from years of allegedly having sex with underage girls.
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