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Testimony has begun in R. Kelly’s federal trial.
In her opening assertion, Assistant U.S. Legal professional Maria Melendez labeled the disgraced R&B singer a “predator,” telling the jury that he was “a person who used his fame, reputation and the people at his disposal to focus on and groom women, boys and younger girls for his sexual gratification,” NPR reports.
Nicole Clean Becker, Kelly’s protection lawyer, tried to make the accusers out to be liars who have been in long-term consensual relationships with Kelly.
“They’ll let you know Mr. Kelly is that this monster. You are additionally going to listen to that a few of these relationships have been stunning,” mentioned Becker, in keeping with NPR.
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Kelly is being accused of assorted crimes, together with sexual exploitation of a kid, bribery, kidnapping, compelled labor and sexual trafficking throughout state strains. He has pleaded not responsible to all fees.
Among the many accusers current was Jerhonda Johnson Tempo, who testified that she had a sexual relationship with Kelly, even after she revealed to him that she was underage.
R. Kelly has been held in custody since July 2019, the place he awaited the beginning of his New York trial. A second federal trial in Illinois on separtate sexual abuse fees and obstruction will observe.
The New York trial, whose jury is made up of seven males and 5 girls, is predicted to final a month and entails six alleged victims.
NPR reviews, federal prosecutors are structuring their case just like that of an organized crime case. They’re alleging that the singer ran a felony enterprise whose specific objective was “to prey upon younger girls and youngsters,” and that he was aided by managers and others in his entourage who additionally trafficking the women and girls throughout state strains.