R&B superstar R. Kelly will finally stand trial for his child pornography offenses in May - six years after the charges were first filed against him.

The 40-year-old appeared in Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, Illinois, on Friday, when Judge Vincent Gaughan decided not to revoke Kelly's bail after he missed a court date scheduled for Wednesday. An arrest warrant was issued for the Bump N' Grind star following the skipped hearing, but he avoided jail by turning up for court on Thursday before the warrant was activated.

In court on Friday, Kelly apologized again for failing to turn up on Wednesday, after being held up by snowy weather conditions in Utah, where he was touring, and the fact police pulled his tour bus over.

He told Gaughan, "I'm sorry for this whole incident, and the next time I would be on a plane if it came down to it."

Gaughan also chose not to stop Kelly from continuing his tour of the U.S., because of the "unintended consequences" of canceling the shows, disappointing fans and inconveniencing venue workers. As a result, Kelly's gig at Chicago's United Center on Friday night will go ahead as planned.

Kelly's trial for 14 child pornography charges will begin on May 9, but he is due in court for another hearing on January 14.

Meanwhile, local woman Jean Johnson was arrested and charged with contempt of court during Kelly's hearing on Friday, after she was caught taking photos of the star on her mobile phone.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)