R. Kelly’s Plea For 3-Month Trial Delay Rejected By Judge

R. Kelly is charged with sex crimes, child pornography, and obstruction of justice in a federal court in Chicago. Kelly was previously convicted on nine counts of racketeering and violations of the Mann Act in a federal court in New York in September. His next trial date has been set.

According to Radar Online, R. Kelly’s next trial has been set for August after a court declined his lawyer’s request to postpone the case by three months. During a telephone conference recently, U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber denied Jennifer Bonjean’s request to delay the trial by three months.

It potentially left Kelly’s lawyer unprepared and the 55-year-old disgraced singer is facing a life sentence. According to a Fox News report, Bonjean requested a three-month delay not only because there is a “exorbitant amount of material to digest” in Kelly’s case, but also because the convicted singer is “looking down the barrel of a life sentence” and his lawyer wants to be properly prepared for his defense.

Judge Leinenweber said the problem is that the case has been delayed time and time again. For that reason, he rejected the request and confirmed the trial for August 1st in Chicago. According to him, this case is going to have to go to trial.

Bonjean, who will represent the disgraced R&B artist in his impending Chicago trial, rose to prominence after assisting in the release of Bill Cosby from prison after the actor was convicted guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Aside from Cosby and Kelly, Bonjean is recognized for representing Keith Raniere, the founder of the sex cult NXIVM, and a number of other high-profile clients.

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