Rape victim excused from Kelly jury

CHICAGO, May 20 (UPI) -- A rape victim was excused from serving on the jury for R. Kelly's child pornography trial in Chicago after claiming they couldn't afford to miss work.

The Chicago Tribune said the juror was removed from the panel Tuesday morning after calling the judge to say their employer wouldn't pay for the time away from work during the trial, making it tough for the juror to pay their mortgage. The trial is expected to last several weeks.

Judge Vincent Gaughan replaced the juror with an alternate.

Gaughan last week denied a defense's request to dismiss the rape victim from the panel, stating the juror looked directly at Kelly and sincerely promised him a fair trial.

Kelly, a 41-year-old Chicago native, is charged with videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl some time between 1998 and 2000. He has pleaded innocent to the charges but faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

The judge warned the media Tuesday that anyone who recreates images from the sex tape, which is expected to be played in court, could be charged with reproducing child pornography, the Tribune said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International