The trial of R. Kelly, the R&B star and multi Grammy award winner has commenced in Brooklyn, New York City, with a damming opening comments and characterization of R. kelly from the US federal prosecutor who have tried to sell the singer to the jury as a “predator” a sex abuser of minors and “a celebrity who likes to party a lot.”
BASIC FACTS
- Kelly has been held in US federal prison awaiting trial since July 2019, between the cities of Chicago and New York since his federal indictments for sex abuse related offences were announced.
- Kelly was moved to New York since June 2021 and presently at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal lockup in Brooklyn. He is detained in same prison with Ghislaine Maxwell, a British citizen who was indicted in the sex abuse case involving the late sex abuser – Jeffrey Epstein.
- The R&B star is now officially on trial after the long wait, and has been charged for offences, which are all sex-related cases in New York, Illinois and Minnesota.
- The facts of the charges is about a sex racketeering case, which the federal prosecutor says involved physically, sexually and psychologically domination of children (both girls and boys) and women.
- The allegation describes Kelly’s dealings with six women and girls, four underage at the time. They include the late singer Aaliyah, who was 15 when she married Kelly.
- His offences also involved recording of sex acts with minors, whom he procured through surrogates and supporters who were extremely loyal in helping him recruit victims and cover his tracks. The alleged victims were allegedly threatened to remain calm and corporative.
- Top on the list of the R. Kelly`s charges is racketeering and this could land him in jail for up 20 years if he is convicted. The singer also faces criminal charges under the US White-Slave Traffic Act (also Mann Act after Congressman James Robert Mann of Illinois), a 1910 law that forbids transporting “any woman or girl” over state lines for “immoral” acts.
- The trial formerly commenced in a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday and Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
- The first prosecution witness by name – Jerhonda Pace, described how R. Kelly turned her from been a fan to a lover at the age of 16. She said the singer got her to tattoo his name (R. Kelly) on her left breast, and started sleeping with her at the age of 16, but asked her to lie that she was 19 at the time. She said Kelly knew her real age because she showed him her identification. She is now 28 and married with kids.
NOTABLE QUOTE
In the words of the prosecutor: “This case is about a predator,” Melendez said. “This case is not about a celebrity who likes to party a lot.”
Kelly’s lawyer, Nicole Blank Becker pushed back on the prosecutors’ characterization of him saying: “ “They knew exactly what they were getting into,”
The first prosecution witness, 28-year-old Jerhonda Pace said “He told me he was going to train me to please him sexually,” said Pace, who is now married with kids.
TAKEAWAY
The case against R. Kelly is sex abuse of minors including boys and girls. The prosecutor describes it as a racketeering case where R. Kelly physically, sexually and psychologically dominated children — girls and boys — and women.
Kelly is also accused of often recording sex acts with these minors, and have used a company of supporters who mostly helped him recruit minors who he abused and also helped him cover his tracks.
- Kelly`s lawyers have tried to push back on these allegations from the prosecutor. The lawyer has also described those who have come forward as victims of the sex abuse escapade fans of R. Kelly who “were dying to be with him.”
- Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
FLASHBACK
Born Robert Sylvester Kelly, the multi Grammy award winning artist is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Kelly has been credited with helping to redefine R&B and hip hop, earning nicknames such as “the King of R&B”, “the King of Pop-Soul”, and the “Pied Piper of R&B”
Inspirational songs like “I Believe I Can Fly” is one of his best moments. The now 54-year-old, was ones a superstar whose heyday was in the ’90s and early 2000s when he racked up prestigious awards. He is now no doubt at his lowest moments.
Sometime in 2020 the R&B singer was attacked in prison in Chicago by a convicted member of the Latin Kings gang. The felon admitted beating up R. Kelly up by repeatedly hitting him on the head.
He said he did it in other to attract attention to his own case, but it was suspected to be a ploy to get Kelly out of prison as his lawyers tried to use the attack as justification for releasing him on bail. This however failed.
