The first day of the trial was surrounded by a huge media gathering, and both fans of the r'n'b star and people who believe he is guilty of the crimes he is accused of gathered outside the courtroom.
- It is a trial that shakes the USA and that involves many here, says SVT's foreign reporter Thomas Thoren who is on site in the USA.
"A predator"
In total, the r'n'b artist is accused of sexually abusing about twenty women - many younger than 18 years when the crimes are said to have been committed - and one man.
According to the prosecution, R Kelly, with the help of his bodyguards and his staff, actively sought out women and girls for sexual purposes.
He is then said to have isolated, abused and sexually exploited them, including to produce pornography.
The charges also include extortion and bribery.
- This case is about a predator, says prosecutor Maria Melendez in her introductory speech in court in New York.
- A man who used lies, manipulation, threats and physical abuse to subdue his victims and avoid responsibility for years.
R Kelly denies the crime and the defense dismisses the female plaintiffs as "dissatisfied groupies".
-He did not recruit them.
They were fans.
They applied to Kelly, says lawyer Nicole Blank Becker and adds that several of the relationships were "beautiful" and "long-lasting".
Detained since 2019
R Kelly has been in custody since 2019. The allegations of abuse span three decades, from the time R Kelly broke through in his hometown of Chicago in the 1990s until the mid-2010s.
The indictment was brought over two years ago, but due to the pandemic, the trial was postponed.
The hearing is expected to last for several weeks.
If the singer is convicted on all counts, he risks imprisonment for between ten years and life.
If he is released, more sex crime charges await in the states of Illinois and Minnesota.
Even there, R Kelly has pleaded not guilty.