CHICAGO, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The long-delayed Chicago trial of R&B artist R. Kelly probably won’t begin until next spring, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday.
A Cook County, Ill., judge Tuesday announced that jury selection for the 5-year-old child pornography case wouldn't begin as planned on Sept. 17.
Judge Vincent Gaughan didn't explain why the trial would be delayed.
However, Shauna Boliker, the lead prosecutor on the case, had a baby last week and in an e-mail to reporters, Gaughan's media liaison said Boliker "is not able to proceed at this time" due to "doctor's orders," the Sun-Times said
But other sources attributed the latest delay to lawyers' quarreling over expert witnesses the prosecutors want to call.
Kelly has pleaded innocent to charges he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl
The girl, allegedly 14 when the tape was made, has denied she is the victim.
A law enforcement source said the case won't go to trial until the spring of 2008. Gaughan is expected to announce a new trial date for Kelly on Sept. 10.
