Chicago- Lawyers are expected to present opening arguments in the child pornography trial involving R&B star R Kelly later.

The selection of 12 jurors and four “alternate” jurors in the Chicago court case finished last week.

Jurors include a man who spent five days in jail for marijuana possession and the wife of a Baptist preacher.

Mr Kelly has denied filming himself engaging in sex acts with a girl who prosecutors say could have been as young as 13.

The jurors were selected from an initial pool of 150.

On Friday, Judge Vincent Gaughan refused a media request for access to transcripts of any parts of the hearing held behind closed doors.

He also refused to lift a gagging order forbidding lawyers from talking about the case.

The judge said he was not trying to inhibit the press but wanted to guarantee a fair trial.

In 2002, Mr Kelly was charged with 21 counts relating to child pornography and was released on $750,000 (£383,000) bail. Seven of the charges have since been dropped.

Mr Kelly, whose hits include She’s Got That Vibe and I Believe I Can Fly, faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

The girl, now 23, who is alleged to be in a crucial videotape says it was not her in the footage.