In the abuse trial against R. Kelly, the jury found the former pop superstar guilty on all nine counts. The 54-year-old was charged with sexual exploitation of minors, kidnapping and bribery, among other things. Now the musician, who has been in prison since his arrest in the summer of 2019, faces a prison sentence of ten years to life. One Report of the New York Times After that, the jury was very unanimous and quickly came to a conclusion.
For about six weeks, the prosecution and defense at the court in Brooklyn, New York, in front of Judge Ann Donnelly, had detailed allegations of abuse against Kelly from several decades, disassembled them and presented their arguments. Dozens of witnesses had spoken and hundreds of pieces of evidence had been sighted.
Kelly was a sex offender, had argued attorney Elizabeth Geddes for the prosecution and demanded his conviction. Kelly’s lawyer Deveraux Cannick argued for the defense that the musician was himself a victim – of made-up stories and embellished accounts of abuse. Kelly did not testify herself, but followed the trial in the courtroom.
“This ruling forever marks R. Kelly as a predator who has used his fame and fortune to exploit young, vulnerable and voiceless people for their own sexual gratification,” Prosecutor Kasulis said after the announcement. The jury sent a “strong message” to men like R. Kelly: “No matter how long it takes, the judiciary will get you.” Some of Kelly’s supporters had also gathered in front of the Brooklyn court.
The first allegations against the musician, born in Chicago in 1967 as Robert Sylvester Kelly, became known a good 25 years ago. In 2008 he was on trial for possession of pictures of serious child sexual abuse – and was acquitted. There are additional charges against Kelly in Illinois and Minnesota.
The current procedure was – after cases like those of film producer Harvey Weinstein and comedian Bill Cosby – the next in the USA and worldwide much noticed legal review of the #MeToo era.