Judge denies motion to delay R.Kelly trial

CHICAGO, May 9 (UPI) -- A Chicago judge Friday refused to grant a defense lawyer's request to postpone singer R. Kelly's long-delayed child pornography trial again.

Kelly is accused of having sex with a girl as young as 13, an act allegedly captured on video some time between 1998 and 2000.

Kelly's attorneys filed a motion Wednesday in an attempt to delay the start of his trial due to the intense media attention the case is getting.

TMZ.com reported Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan dismissed the motion Friday.

The Chicago Tribune said jury selection began and the R&B singer left the court building after the jurors were dismissed.

The newspaper also said Gaughan barred reporters from entering the courtroom.

Jury selection is to resume Monday.

Twenty jurors are to be interviewed each day, with 16 jurors to be selected, four of them as alternates, the Tribune said.