Testimony in the R. Kelly child pornography trial was cut short Wednesday after a man called the defense earlier that day with information that could challenge the credibility of a prosecution witness.
The witness, a woman, was expected to testify Wednesday that she had a three-way sexual encounter with Kelly and the alleged victim.
As the court recessed for lunch shortly before 1 p.m., Cook County Circuit Court Judge Vincent Gaughan said Sam Adam Sr., one of Kelly’s defense attorneys, informed him that a man called with information that the defense needs to hear before the prosecution’s star witness testifies.
Adam said the addition of a defense witness at this stage in the trial was not planned and they needed time to interview him. He is expected to arrive in Chicago tonight.
“The record should reflect that we never knew about this witness until 9 a.m. this morning. He called us,” Adam told the judge.
“I have no idea what’s going on. It might be impeachment of the (prosecution’s) witness,” Gaughan said.
The defense made a failed attempt to prevent the woman from testifying after information came to light about her during closed-door hearings in April.
The woman, an Atlanta resident, is now expected to testify Thursday.
Kelly, 41, is charged with 14 counts of child pornography for allegedly filming himself and a minor%uFFFD between 1998 and 2000%uFFFDhaving sex. He and the alleged victim denied being in the video. The Chicago native faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
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