R. Kelly's federal trial is underway in Illinois. As the New York Post reports, jurors are expected to be shown video footage of the disgraced R&B singer allegedly raping his goddaughter, who was 14 years old at the time.
The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual assault and violence. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct and are looking for support, consult the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime to find resources in your area.
Yesterday (August 17), the prosecution alleged that R. Kelly had videotaped himself raping multiple minors, and three of those videos involved his then-14-year-old goddaughter.
"The defendant, Robert Kelly, had sex with multiple children," Assistant US Attorney Jason Julien said. "He made videotapes of himself having sex with children."
They went on to claim that the musician went to "extraordinary lengths" (as per the Chicago Tribune) to conceal the evidence — which is why, according to Julien, more videos will not be shown to the jury; Kelly and co-defendants Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown allegedly covered them up. Witnesses are expected to testify about the footage nonetheless.
"[Kelly has] a hidden side, a dark side, that he — with the help of McDavid and Brown — did not allow the world to see," Julien added. "This trial is about Kelly's hidden side."
"It is true that Mr. Kelly is imperfect," Kelly's attorney Jennifer Bonjean argued, urging the jury not to envision the singer as "a monster." "On his journey from poverty to stardom, he stumbled along the way," she said.
R. Kelly is facing multiple charges involving the enticement of minors for sex. The trial's main focus will be Kelly's charge of conspiracy to defraud the US government, which is related to accusations that he threatened and paid off a victim — who is expected to testify now — back in 2008.
He was sentenced to 30 years in prison in June after being found guilty on nine counts of racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Earlier this week, Kelly's legal team filed to have jurors who have seen Surviving R. Kelly banned from the trial.
The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual assault and violence. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct and are looking for support, consult the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime to find resources in your area.
Yesterday (August 17), the prosecution alleged that R. Kelly had videotaped himself raping multiple minors, and three of those videos involved his then-14-year-old goddaughter.
"The defendant, Robert Kelly, had sex with multiple children," Assistant US Attorney Jason Julien said. "He made videotapes of himself having sex with children."
They went on to claim that the musician went to "extraordinary lengths" (as per the Chicago Tribune) to conceal the evidence — which is why, according to Julien, more videos will not be shown to the jury; Kelly and co-defendants Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown allegedly covered them up. Witnesses are expected to testify about the footage nonetheless.
"[Kelly has] a hidden side, a dark side, that he — with the help of McDavid and Brown — did not allow the world to see," Julien added. "This trial is about Kelly's hidden side."
"It is true that Mr. Kelly is imperfect," Kelly's attorney Jennifer Bonjean argued, urging the jury not to envision the singer as "a monster." "On his journey from poverty to stardom, he stumbled along the way," she said.
R. Kelly is facing multiple charges involving the enticement of minors for sex. The trial's main focus will be Kelly's charge of conspiracy to defraud the US government, which is related to accusations that he threatened and paid off a victim — who is expected to testify now — back in 2008.
He was sentenced to 30 years in prison in June after being found guilty on nine counts of racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Earlier this week, Kelly's legal team filed to have jurors who have seen Surviving R. Kelly banned from the trial.
