Opening Statements In R. Kelly Trial Begin, Juror Dismissed

The case will most likely be centered around if Kelly is indeed man in the sex tape in which he allegedly urinates on a seemingly underage girl.

Kelly's lawyers vehemently deny that he is the man in in the video. Also damning for the prosecution is that the girl said to be in the tape (now a 23-year-old woman) denies any involvement, and is willing to testify on Kelly's behalf.

The prosecution, however, will possibly bring to the stand a second woman who claims to have had a menage a trois with Kelly and the girl in question, while both females were underage.

Jury selection was completed last week for the trial; the jury consists of 12 jurors, eight of whom who are white and four who are black. Both rosecutors and defense attorneys accused each other of trying to stack the panel along racial lines. Though the 2:1 white/black ratio stood at the begininging of the trial, it is unknown what the racial make-up is now after one juror has been replaced this morning (tues) by one of four alternates.

According to WBBM News Radio in Chicago, the juror who was replaced told Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan that sitting on jury would leave her unable to pay her bills. When asked if her financial worries would cause her to not pay attention during the trial, the juror said, "Very much so.''