Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

R. Kelly, A Famous American Musician, Is Contesting His Federal Sex Offense Conviction In New York

POSTED ON April 20, 2023 •   Judiciary      BY Akinbohun Samuel

Robert Sylvester Kelly, often known as R. Kelly, a former American music artist, has appealed his New York federal sex offense conviction.

In February 2023, U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber found Kelly guilty of sexually abusing a minor and sentenced him to an additional 20 years in prison. Kelly was already serving a federal 30-year sentence for three counts of producing child pornography and three counts of encouraging a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

R. Kelly requests that the Appeal Court overturn his convictions or, at the very least, mandate a fresh trial.

However, in a recent development, the 56-year-old musician provided some justifications for why his sentence should be overturned in his appeal.

Even though a jury found him guilty on all counts, he contended in court that the government had not met its burden of proof.

Additionally, the jury and some of the evidence that the prosecution was permitted to present throughout the trial have drawn the ire of his attorneys.

They asserted that at least four of the chosen jurors have now acknowledged prejudging his guilt before delivering the final decision. Additionally, it was claimed that two of the jury members had seen the documentary series "Surviving R. Kelly" and should not have been chosen.

Kelly maintained that some of the girls he was accused of assaulting and grooming were at least 18 years old when he first met them and initiated a sexual relationship with them, despite the prosecution's assertion that the alleged grooming began while the victims were still minors.

Kelly's lawyers asserted that he was mislead by the girls in instances when he is alleged to have met with actual minors since they did not disclose their actual ages to him at the time.

His attorneys contended that details about his sexual life, conduct, and behavior with his former partners or exes, accounts of which dove into STDs, sexual preferences, and bedroom behavior, were not pertinent to the crimes being alleged against him and were merely a side note to the case.

READ ALSO
Senate approves new leadership for Law Reform commission
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

The Senate has ratified the appointment of Professor Dakas C.J. Dakas as the Chairman of the Nigeria...

READ ALSO
To Achieve Economic Reform, Tinubu Must Embrace Governance Restructuring - Agbakoba
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 14, 2025 0

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has stated that Presiden...

READ ALSO
Court Orders El-Rufai to Compensate community Elders N900M for Illegal Detention
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 28, 2025 0

KADUNA, Nigeria - A Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-R...

READ ALSO
House of Representatives Advances Bill to Make Voting Mandatory for Nigerians
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 15, 2025 0

Abuja, Nigeria- The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to am...

READ ALSO
Kogi State Commission Suspends Magistrate and Orders Judge’s Resignation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara May 9, 2025 0

KOGI, Nigeria -The Kogi State Judicial Commission, committed to eradicating unlawful practices withi...

READ ALSO
SERAP urges withdrawal of bill targeting Non-Voters in Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 31, 2025 0

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has appealed to Senate President Godswi...

READ ALSO
Akwa Ibom Chief Judge releases 55 inmates amidst calls for improved Justice system
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 15, 2025 0

AKWA IBOM, Nigeria - The Chief Judge (CJ) of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaette Obot, has concluded a three-...

READ ALSO
Meranda charged with corruption after Obasa reinstallment
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 10, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The reinstated speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed c...

OUR CHANNELS:

Scores Die During Plane, Train Crashes in Kenya
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 9, 2025 0

No fewer than 10 persons including doctors and nurses have been confirmed dead following an aircraft...


Foreign Investors Pull Out N576.09 Billion from Nigerian Equities in H1 2025
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 8, 2025 0

Foreign investors divested from equities totaling N576.09 billion on the Nigerian Exchange from Janu...


EFCC Warns Developers: "Don't Profit from the Proceeds of Crime
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 9, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised concerns about the p...


68-Year-Old British Pensioner Arrested for Pro-Palestinian Protest
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 8, 2025 0

A pensioner, Marji Mansfield, never thought she would be suspected of terrorism for protesting the p...


WAEC Faces Backlash as Result Checker Portal Shuts Down Amid Criticism of 2025 Exam Performance
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 9, 2025 0

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is facing renewed criticism following the temporary clo...


FG Unveils Gantry Installation Plan to Protect Road Infrastructure
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 9, 2025 0

The federal government has revealed plans to install gantries on flyovers to mitigate damage from ov...


FG Backs Arewa International Film Festival to Promote Northern Cinema
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 9, 2025 0

The federal government has expressed its support for the Arewa International Film Festival (AIFF) an...


Obi Slams N712 Billion Airport Renovation Amidst National Hunger Crisis
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 10, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - Peter Obi, the leader of Nigeria's opposition, has criticized President Bola Tinubu...


NABTEB Empowers Directorate Cadre Staff with Training for a Stronger Future
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 8, 2025 0

The National Board for Technical Education and Examination Board (NABTEB) conducted a training sessi...


Chelsea Midfielder Moves to Everton for £24m ahead of EPL kickoff
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara August 10, 2025 0

Everton, the Merseyside club, has finalized the acquisition of English midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-H...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu