The judge in the "Diamond Kitties" human trafficking trial said the case will move forward with a likely trial date of late July or early August. That was just part of the information imparted during an all-day hearing Thursday in the Kenndric Roberts case.
Roberts is accused of holding women against their will, forcing them to work at strip clubs and giving him all the money they earned. He called them his "Diamond Kitties."
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Roberts has been in jail since March of 2017 when he was arrested. That’s when one of the women called 911 and asked to be rescued from the lavish Sandy Springs mansion where she and other women lived with Roberts.
The defendant has made the unusual decision to represent himself.
“It’s not that I want to stand here and represent myself,” said Roberts. “I don’t believe I can do a better job. It’s just politics.”
Roberts said he feels there’s a conflict of interested because the public defenders are employed by the state, who is also prosecuting him.
“I’m sorry you have these concerns but I do not,” said Judge Rachel Krause, who is presiding over Roberts’ case. “These lawyers are competent. They are capable. They are ethical.”
PHOTOS | 'Diamond Kitties' human trafficking suspect speaks from jail
Despite the judge’s repeated efforts to explain how Roberts would not have the same freedom to investigate his case because he is in jail, Judge Krause ruled Roberts can act as his own lawyer.
However, the challenges facing the defendant were obvious throughout the day. Roberts veered far off topic while addressing motions. The judge halted him at times to try to keep the court on track.
Roberts repeatedly circled back to the issue of evidence. He claimed he has not gotten all of the evidence in the case. Prosecutors said he has.
Roberts complained he could not see evidence given to him on a flash drive because he has no access to a computer in his cell at the Fulton County jail. Judge Krause responded that the prosecution printed out that evidence and he has had more than a month to review it in his cell.
“The court has tried to accommodate you,” said Judge Krause.
At one point, Roberts accused prosecutors of intentionally hiding evidence.
“They’re toying with me,” said Roberts.
“I’m not willing to accept your premise that the state is playing with you,” responded Judge Krause. “The problem lies… in that you’re in jail.”
When Roberts went off on another tangent about being denied bail, the judge again tried to focus the defendant towards the purpose of today’s hearing: addressing the numerous motions he’s filed and letting him view evidence he does not have access to in jail.
“That sounds like excellent fodder for a closing argument but not what we’re discussing today,” said the judge.
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Another high-profile case just ended in Gwinnett County in which the defendant represented herself. Tiffany Moss was sentenced to death for starving her stepdaughter in 2013. Unlike that trial, during which Moss barely uttered a word, Roberts has shown he will take an active role in his defense.
Roberts spent the afternoon in court going through any evidence that could not be delivered to the jail.
Roberts is charged with more than 50 counts of human trafficking and false imprisonment. If convicted, he faces 640 years in prison.
'SISTERS OF STRUGGLE' | FULL COVERAGE OF THE DIAMOND KITTIES CASE