What testimony have jurors heard during the trial?
Jurors have heard from several accusers thus far. Jerhonda Pace testified that she had sexual encounters with Kelly when she was 16, alleging he sexually and physically abused her and instructed her to lie about her age. A woman identified as Addie alleged that Kelly raped her after a concert when she was 17. Another accuser said that he sexually assaulted her when she was 17, physically abused her, and "purposely" gave her herpes. Additionally, a man identified as Louis was the first male accuser to testify, alleging the singer sexually abused him when he was 17. Former employees have taken the stand. One said he was tasked with giving girls Kelly's phone number; another testified he bribed a government worker to obtain a fake ID for Aaliyah so she and Kelly could get married.
What has his defense been?
Kelly's attorney, Nicole Blank Becker, has argued that the singer's alleged victims weren't recruited and "knew exactly what they were getting into." In one instance, Kelly's defense team had an accuser read a letter she wrote purporting to detail a plot to blackmail Kelly; the accuser said that Kelly "made me" write it to have as collateral. Becker has denied that Kelly is a "racketeering leader," telling jurors that the allegations pertain to his "personal life" but that his "personal life is not on trial."
Why else is the trial notable?
It's the first big MeToo case where most of the alleged victims aren't white women, former assistant district attorney Deborah Tuerkheimer observed to The New York Times. "If you take these kinds of accusers who have traditionally been most dismissed, most disregarded, most cast aside — and those women are able to be believed and have jurors care enough to convict, that matters." If Kelly's 2008 child pornography case involved white victims, producer Craig Williams said in Surviving R. Kelly, "I'm sure Rob would have gone to jail very swiftly."
What's next after the verdict?
The trial in New York, which is expected to last about a month, won't be Kelly's last. He's facing a slew of charges in other states, including aggravated sexual abuse, child pornography, enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, obstruction of justice, and prostitution and solicitation. He has continued to deny all of the allegations.
What testimony have jurors heard during the trial?
Jurors have heard from several accusers thus far. Jerhonda Pace testified that she had sexual encounters with Kelly when she was 16, alleging he sexually and physically abused her and instructed her to lie about her age. A woman identified as Addie alleged that Kelly raped her after a concert when she was 17. Another accuser said that he sexually assaulted her when she was 17, physically abused her, and "purposely" gave her herpes. Additionally, a man identified as Louis was the first male accuser to testify, alleging the singer sexually abused him when he was 17. Former employees have taken the stand. One said he was tasked with giving girls Kelly's phone number; another testified he bribed a government worker to obtain a fake ID for Aaliyah so she and Kelly could get married.
What has his defense been?
Kelly's attorney, Nicole Blank Becker, has argued that the singer's alleged victims weren't recruited and "knew exactly what they were getting into." In one instance, Kelly's defense team had an accuser read a letter she wrote purporting to detail a plot to blackmail Kelly; the accuser said that Kelly "made me" write it to have as collateral. Becker has denied that Kelly is a "racketeering leader," telling jurors that the allegations pertain to his "personal life" but that his "personal life is not on trial."
Why else is the trial notable?
It's the first big MeToo case where most of the alleged victims aren't white women, former assistant district attorney Deborah Tuerkheimer observed to The New York Times. "If you take these kinds of accusers who have traditionally been most dismissed, most disregarded, most cast aside — and those women are able to be believed and have jurors care enough to convict, that matters." If Kelly's 2008 child pornography case involved white victims, producer Craig Williams said in Surviving R. Kelly, "I'm sure Rob would have gone to jail very swiftly."
What's next after the verdict?
The trial in New York, which is expected to last about a month, won't be Kelly's last. He's facing a slew of charges in other states, including aggravated sexual abuse, child pornography, enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, obstruction of justice, and prostitution and solicitation. He has continued to deny all of the allegations.
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