United States: singer R. Kelly convicted of sex crimes
Singer R.Kelly at a Chicago court hearing on September 17, 2019. AP - Antonio Perez
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Fallen American R&B star Robert Kelly was convicted on Monday by a New York court of a series of sex crimes, including years of running a system of sexual exploitation of young women, including minor.
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This lawsuit is considered a major milestone in
the #MeToo movement:
it is the first time that the majority of the plaintiffs are black women and that they accuse a black artist.
The 54-year-old singer, known for his world
hit I Believe I Can Fly
, was also convicted by the Brooklyn Federal Court jury of the crime of "sex trafficking."
R. Kelly had been on trial for over a month, including extortion, sexual exploitation of a minor, kidnapping, bribery and forced labor, over a period ranging from 1994 to 2018. The former African-American R&B star, wearing jacket and tie, did not show any particular emotion at the statement of his guilt.
Masked, he contented himself with lowering his head and closing his eyes.
One of his lawyers, Deveraux Cannick, told reporters they were "
disappointed with the verdict
" and were considering appealing.
As is very often the case in criminal proceedings in the United States, the prison sentence will be handed down much later, in this case on May 4, 2022 for R. Kelly already in custody.
He faces life imprisonment.
During the six-week trial in Brooklyn - with relative indifference to the mainstream American media - nine women and two men testified that R. Kelly had sexually abused them, describing rape, forced drug use, imprisonment or even child pornography.
Robert Sylvester Kelly is accused of having perpetrated these crimes with impunity, taking advantage of his notoriety.
He has always denied the facts.
(
With
AFP)
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