A federal prosecutor says R Kelly is a “predator” who demanded absolute loyalty from the many women and underage girls he dominated in a two-decade racketeering scheme.
The US singer’s sex abuse trial got underway yesterday. Kelly’s defence team countered that the government’s case had gaps, and that the R&B star’s accusers were unhappy former fans who wanted to get back at him because their relationships didn’t work out.
Kelly has pleaded not guilty to a nine-count indictment that includes accusations of bribery and extortion. The trial is the culmination of years of suspicions and accusations against Kelly, many discussed in the 2019 Lifetime documentary “Surviving R. Kelly,” and nearly four years after the start of the #MeToo era.
Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges at a 2008 trial in Illinois. He could face decades in prison if convicted.
