Juror in singer R. Kelly trial suffers panic attack after seeing child pornography evidence

R. Kelly, 55, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for racketeering and sex trafficking of women and girls in 2021, but he still has proceedings pending on charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice. The rapper, currently on trial, is charged with 13 counts of producing and receiving child pornography, as well as enticing minors to engage in criminal sexual activity, dating back to 2008.

During his current trial a juror suffered a panic attack while viewing graphic evidence in the case during closing arguments. The episode was the result of the images exposing the brutality of the actions committed by the singer against a young girl.  

"I've been advised she said she can't go on another minute more," U.S Dristrict Judge Harry Leinenweber said before he replaced Juror 44 with Juror 83 at the Dirksen Courthouse in Chicago, after talking about what happened to the woman, according to Newsweek.

Also Elizabeth Pozolo, an assistant U.S. attorney in the case, assured jurors that the defendant had committed "horrible crimes" against children, before examining the evidence. "Robert Kelly molested many little girls for many years," she said, referring to the 55-year-old Grammy winner's full name.

R. Kelly took advantage of his fame as a music industry superstar to sexually abuse minors and videotape that abuse, another prosecutor told the jury last Monday, according to the release.

Also on trial in the case are Derrel McDavid, his former business manager, and Milton "June" Brown, his business partner. All of them were charged with conspiring to intimidate and bribe witnesses and to cover up damning evidence.