The second week of the R. Kelly sex-trafficking trial in New York Metropolis proved to be an train by prosecutors to color the “I Imagine I Can Fly” R&B star as a man-child management freak and a compulsive intercourse offender who exploited susceptible victims lower than half his age whereas ordering them to name him “Daddy.”
Protection attorneys for the 54-year-old entertainer, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, countered by in search of to painting the accusers as mendacity opportunists making an attempt to leverage Kelly’s fame.
Listed here are snapshots from week two of the case:
LIAR, LIAR
Two Kelly accusers, each testifying with out revealing their true identities, stated that at age 17 they sought his assist launching their music careers, or these of others. However Kelly, they stated, solely feigned curiosity.
On this courtroom artist’s sketch R. Kelly, left, listens throughout his trial in New York, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. The 54-year-old Kelly has repeatedly denied accusations that he preyed on a number of alleged victims throughout a 30-year profession highlighted by his mega hit “I Imagine I Can Fly.” (AP Photograph/Elizabeth Williams) (AP Photograph/Elizabeth Williams)
R. KELLY ONCE COMPARED HIMSELF TO JERRY LEE LEWIS: WITNESS
One informed the jury Kelly invited her and a pal to his studio to listen to the pal sing. However he shortly misplaced persistence as a result of “he wasn’t thrilled about my mother being with us,” she stated.
One other witness who stated she had formal coaching as a performer received somewhat additional with Kelly — or so it appeared. Her edge was a professionally made music video for a single she wrote, titled “Liar Liar.”
Requested for enter, Kelly “stated that he did prefer it and that it was cute, and that it wasn’t too grown or too attractive,” she stated.
However prosecutors say Kelly was the liar. They allege his tutelage was merely a ploy to benefit from the women, main them down a path of sexual degradation.
A prosecutor requested the lady what steps Kelly took to again up his guarantees to assist launch her profession.
“None,” she responded.
THE NOT-SO-MAGIC KINGDOM
Lots of Kelly’s draconian tendencies in working an empire headquartered in customized mansions and music studios have been detailed by a former worker named Tom Arnold. One instance was a failed try to prepare a 2011 journey to Disney World for Kelly’s entourage that included, as all the time, “feminine friends.”
Arnold was ordered to rearrange the journey n brief discover, reserving resort rooms and transportation, and hiring a VIP tour information for the theme park. He succeeded on the first two duties. He ran right into a glitch on the third.
Any time Kelly visited the Magic Kingdom, there was an edict that he “wanted a lady to be the information,” Arnold informed the jury. Nevertheless, this time, the one individual obtainable was a person. The witness stated when his boss arrived, he abruptly canceled the outing and despatched everybody residence.
On this courtroom artist’s sketch, former R. Kelly worker Tom Arnold testifies on the R&B star’s trial in New York, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. The 54-year-old Kelly has repeatedly denied accusations that he preyed on a number of alleged victims throughout a 30-year profession highlighted by his mega hit “I Imagine I Can Fly.” (AP Photograph/Elizabeth Williams) (AP Photograph/Elizabeth Williams)
R. KELLY’S VICTIMS FORCED TO WRITE FAKE BLACKMAIL LETTER IN CASE HE WAS EVER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE: WITNESS
Arnold stated his spouse seen his subsequent paycheck was docked every week’s pay — $1,500 — as an obvious “high quality” for the transgression. Quitting his job with Kelly was the one possibility, he stated.
“At that time, I wasn’t comfortable, my spouse wasn’t comfortable and Rob wasn’t comfortable,” he stated.
TUG OF WAR
A lot of the testimony of a key accuser targeted on a tug of battle between her mother and father and Kelly.
The girl testified that her mother and father had at first inspired her relationship with Kelly and even pitched concepts for their very own enterprise ventures with him. She conceded on cross-examination that one concept was to market a Kelly-themed intercourse toy. Even for him, that went too far, she stated.
Kelly “confided in me later it was not one thing he may ever do,” she stated.
A complication for the lady was that, effectively earlier than the trial, she had achieved an interview with Gayle King on “CBS This Morning” during which she expressed her devotion to Kelly and disavowed her mother and father. She referred to as her father “a manipulative liar” for suggesting she’d been brainwashed.
However on the witness stand, the lady claimed her statements have been orchestrated by Kelly to provide him cowl.
She stated behind the scenes, he as soon as “pulled out an iPad and he informed me to make a video saying that my father had molested me.”
PROSECUTOR’S RETORT
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In one of many week’s extra dramatic moments, Assistant U.S. Legal professional Elizabeth Geddes attacked the protection tactic of asking the witness about “all types of issues that your mother and father did.” The retort took the type of a relentless collection of questions of her personal — revamped a protection objection — aimed toward refocusing jurors on essentially the most disturbing allegations towards Kelly.
Amongst them: “Who uncovered you to a sexually transmitted illness with out your consent – your mother and father or the defendant? Who had sexual contact with you, together with sexual activity with you, once you have been 17 years previous – your mother and father or the defendant? Who made you movie movies of you participating in degrading conduct, together with smearing and consuming feces – your mother and father or the defendant?”
In a gentle voice, she responded every time: “The defendant.”
Supply
Comments are closed.