United States: singer R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex crimes
Former R&B star R. Kelly and his lawyer Jennifer Bonjean on a sketch, during the reading of his sentence by American justice, June 29, 2022. © Elizabeth Williams / AP
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1 min
In the United States, the sentence fell in the trial of R. Kelly.
The R&B singer was sentenced to 30 years in prison in New York, after being found guilty of several sex crimes, including sexual exploitation of a minor.
While this is one of the flagship trials of the #MeToo movement, the former star will then have to respond to other acts in Chicago, in particular.
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With our correspondent in New York,
Loubna Anaki
For Judge Ann Donnelly, we must “
protect society from predatory behavior like that of R.
Kelly
”.
The magistrate therefore decided on a heavier sentence than that requested by the prosecutors: 30 years in prison for the American singer.
Last September,
he was found guilty
, among other things, of leading a network that recruited and groomed girls, often minors, to have sex with him.
“
A mafia
,” insisted one of the prosecutors during the trial.
For some of the victims present Wednesday, June 29 at the hearing, it is "
the end of a nightmare
".
“
He destroyed so many lives.
I hope we can finally heal
,” said one of the complainants.
This sentence comes after
decades of accusations of abuse
against R. Kelly who has always denied everything and had so far
managed to get away with it
.
This time, American justice no longer intends to let go.
After his conviction in New York, it is in Chicago that he will have to answer for his actions.
His trial for child pornography opens on August 15.
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