A woman was held in contempt for shouting “Free R. Kelly” while the 15-member jury in the R&B singer’s child pornography trial was being esorted by sheriff deputies to the courtroom Thursday.
Cook County Sheriff’s Sgt. London Thomas and two other deputies brought the jury up to the 5th floor courtroom about 10:20 a.m. When they encountered a crowd of about 15 to 20 people standing close to the elevator’s doors, Thomas told the court. “I asked twice (for the crowd to move). As they (jury) got off the elevator, a woman shouted, ‘Free R. Kelly,’” the sergeant said, adding that he was looking directly at the woman, Debbie Triplett, when she said it twice. The judge was informed about the incident and asked the jury if they heard the woman. All jurors indicated they had not. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Vincent Gaughan ordered Triplett held on $50,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear in court June 25.
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