R Kelly judge allows video to be shown
The judge in the R Kelly. child pornography case upheld his ruling allowing the public to view a videotape that allegedly shows the R&B singer having sex with a minor.
In pre-trial hearing Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Boliker again asked Judge Vincent Gaughan to bar the public from viewing the tape in court, which she said would be harmful to the girl portrayed in the video.
Boliker said: "The state alleges it to be a re-victimisation of the (girl in the tape)."
In his earlier ruling, Gaughan said there was not an "overarching interest" in keeping the media and the public from seeing a tape that is the "lynchpin" of the case.
However, at the pre-trial hearing, Gaughan said that because the girl has denied that she is on the tape, there is no victim to protect. Prosecutors said they do not plan to call the girl as a witness.
The court also heard several pretrial arguments on Tuesday (August 21), including whether a prosecution expert should be allowed to testify.
Boliker said she is planning to call Sharon Cooper, a developmental and forensic paediatrician, to testify that the reluctant behavior of the girl in the case is typical for someone who has been the victim of sexual abuse.
Gaughan is expected to rule on Cooper's testimony and other pretrial motions on September 10, reports Metromix. |
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club play Camden Crawl
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club played a headlining set tonight (April 19) at the first of their two Camden Crawl gigs.
Leading the way at the Underworld venue, the band who headlined the Astoria the night before squeezed into the tiny basement room for the Fallout Records hosted bash.
Coming onstage to chants of "Rebel, rebel", the band tore into a relentless, hard driving set that mixed live favourites with their forthcoming fourth album 'Baby 81'.
With the likes of 'Whatever Happened To My Rock N Roll (Punk Song)' and 'Stop' triggering a frenzy in the crowd, the band inspired wave upon wave of crowd surfers at the sweaty venue.
Having played new song 'Took Out A Loan' from practically the front row - almost having his bass accidentally kicked out of his hands by a stray foot belonging to an enthusiastic surfer - singer Robert Levon Been praised the audience's energy.
"You guys are the greatest fuckers, God bless you and maybe see you tomorrow," he declared, referencing the band's second appearance tomorrow (April 20).
Earlier The Cooper Temple Clause had been due to play ahead of the headliners, but blaming the old classic of "unforeseen circumstances" the band pulled their appearance and were replaced by DJs. |
Muse play Wembley Stadium mega gig
Muse have played the biggest gig of their lives tonight (June 16) at Wembley Stadium in north London.
The band marked their first night at the giant venue (they play again on June 17) with an epic two hour performance.
With the stage decorated with giant satellite dishes, futuristic antennas, giant white balls and thousands of dazzling lights the band's set was equal to the stadium's impressive setting.
Surprising the expectant audience, the band emerged in the middle of the crowd in a fountain of glitter before walking along an extended catwalk to the stage and kicking off the show with triumphant opener 'Knights Of Cydonia'.
Playing in front of a giant screen which mixed stage shots with pre-prepared video clips, plus frontman Matt Bellamy and bassist Chris Wolstenholme roaming the vast stage, occasionally peforming from special ramped-up areas on either side, Muse worked hard to engage the vast audience.
"How you doing Wembley?" drummer Dominic Howard asked the masses after early songs including 'City Of Delusion' and 'Map Of The Problematique' which was been recorded at the Wembley shows for release as a live single. "It looks like you're having fun, we are!"
The band then tore through a career-spanning set including 'Sunburn' which Bellamy introduced - seated at a glass-topped grand piano - as "the very first song from our very first album".
With the whole crowding bonding to loudly sing-a-long to 'Invincible', the singer then paused to acknowledge the sheer scale of the giant gig.
"How are you doing at the back?" He asked squinting into the distance. "I hope you see us! This one is for you."
Muse then launched into 'Starlight' before quickly following it up with 'Man Of Mystery', The Shadows cover the band recorded especially for the CD which is being given away free with copies of NME which are on UK newsstands now.
Finishing their initial set with an expanded version of 'New Born' - complete with spotlights in the centre of the satellite dishes illuminating the whole stadium - the band then returned for a climactic first encore.
Re-taking to the stage Bellamy encourage the crowd to hold their mobile phones in the air filling the venue with tiny sparkling lights during 'Soldiers Poem' which he dedicated to "unsung heroes".
However Muse then trumped themselves bringing on two acrobats who, suspended by giant white balloons, soared above the crowd during a dreamy rendition of 'Blackout'.
With 'Plug In Baby' exploding Wembley back into life after the mid-air dancers, the band then teasingly left the stage once again but were soon back to finish things off.
"Thanks you guys have been fantastic," declared Bellamy on his return. "And thanks for making us the first artists to sell out [the new] Wembley-fucking-Stadium!"
The band then launched into closer 'Take A Bow' which they concluded with by unleashing giant flames right at the end of the song, before soaking up the applause and leaving the stage for the final time.
Muse played:
'Knights Of Cydonia'
'Hysteria'
'Supermassive Blackhole'
'Map Of The Problematique'
'City Of Delusion'
'Butterflies & Hurricanes'
'Citizen Erased'
'Hoodoo'
'Feeling Good'
'Sunburn'
'Invincible'
'Starlight'
'Man Of Mystery'
'Time Is Running Out'
'Newborn'
'Soldiers Poem'
'Unintended'
'Blackout'
'Plug In Baby'
'Micro Cuts'
'Stockholm Syndrome'
'Take A Bow'
Earlier support had come from The Streets, Dirty Pretty Things and Rodrigo y Gabriella.
Were you at the gig, what did you think? Send your thoughts and pictures to news@nme.com with Muse in the subject line and we will publish the best.
Muse now set to play Wembley Stadium again tomorrow night (June 17).
Biffy Clyro and Shy Child are also set to play, while main support band My Chemical Romance have denied rumours they might pull their appearence tomorrow following damage to their equipment during the storm at Venice's Heineken Jammin' Festival yesterday (June 15), with a spokesperson for the band confirming to NME.COM they would play.
Stay tuned to NME.COM for a full report plus a live blog straight from Wembley Stadium.
For a full interview spanning Muse's career get this week's NME which is out now.
Not only that, but the magazine comes free with a special CD hand-picked by the band themselves and featuring brand new Muse track - 'Man Of Mystery'.
In the meantime you can look back at Muse's career in pictures here on NME.COM.
So make sure you stay with NME and NME.COM for the ultimate coverage of Muse's Wembley shows and check back on June 18 to hear an exclusive version of Muse's new single, 'Map Of The Problematique', which will be recorded live at Wembley over the weekend |