Friday, 6 June 2008

Reporter refuses to answer questions at R. Kelly trial in Chicago

CHICAGO - A Chicago Sun-Times reporter isn't going to answer questions at R. Kelly's child pornography trial.

Jim DeRogatis cited an Illinois law that governs reporters' rights and the First and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution in refusing to answer questions Wednesday.

DeRogatis read the statement more than a dozen times in response to questions, including whether he once made a copy of the sex tape at the centre of the trial.

Defence lawyers have said that copying the tape would have been a crime.

After DeRogatis' 10 minutes on the stand, Judge Vincent Gaughan said reporters' privileges don't apply. But the judge ruled that DeRogatis doesn't have to testify based on his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.










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