The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

R. Kelly: US musician sentenced to 30 years in prison

2022-06-30T08:26:54.281Z


Sexual exploitation of minors, kidnapping and bribery: US musician R. Kelly was found guilty on all charges. He has to go to prison for decades.


Enlarge image

R. Kelly (2019): Guilty

Photo:

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / REUTERS

Former pop superstar R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in an abuse trial.

This was announced by Judge Ann Donnelly at a court in New York.

A jury found the musician guilty on all nine counts, including sexual exploitation of minors, kidnapping and bribery, last year after a trial lasting several weeks.

Kelly, who appeared in court with black glasses, a black corona mask and a khaki top, had always denied the allegations.

Before Judge Donnelly handed down the sentence, seven of Kelly's victims told their stories one after the other, some in tears.

Sometimes the women looked and spoke to him directly – but Kelly either stared straight ahead at the notes on the table in front of him or spoke quietly to his defense attorneys.

One woman said the musician had a "God complex," "manipulated millions of people," and committed "pathetic, inexplicable" acts.

"I'm not here for the money and certainly not for Hollywood," said another, "I'm here because I'm looking for justice."

Prosecutors had previously asked for more than 25 years in prison and a fine of between $50,000 and $250,000 for the "I Believe I Can Fly" singer, who has been in prison since his arrest in the summer of 2019.

Such a punishment is appropriate, among other things, because of the seriousness of his crimes, and Kelly is still a danger, it said.

The musician's lawyers had demanded a significantly lower sentence.

Kelly is said to be almost bankrupt

Before the sentence was announced, there were also renewed discussions in court about the musician's financial situation.

While prosecutors claimed that Kelly was owed millions from rights sales, the musician's defense dismissed this, saying he was effectively bankrupt.

"His music is no longer played," said lawyer Jennifer Bonjean: "We can see it in his royalties, since the process they have fallen dramatically."

The trial is a victory for the #MeToo movement, which had already celebrated Kelly's verdict.

Women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, who represented several plaintiffs in the case, said the ex-superstar was "the worst" of the many sex offenders she's pursued in her career.

He used his fame to abuse, intimidate and humiliate minors.

With the sentencing in New York, the legal disputes for Kelly are not over: There are also charges against the musician in the US states of Illinois and Minnesota.

A trial in Chicago is scheduled to begin in mid-August.

ptz/AP/Reuters/dpa

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2022-06-30

You may like

News/Politics 2024-02-05T15:02:33.413Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.