The embarrassed singer was forced to listen to him as the survivors condemned his “contemptuous” actions and described him as “the R&B piper” before the judge announced his long prison sentence. Kelly promised to guide and help them in the music industry, but continued to subject them to humiliating and systemic abuse. He was found guilty of extortion and human trafficking following a high-profile trial in New York in September 2021, which came after years of accusations throughout his career. At his sentencing by U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly on Wednesday, the court heard impact statements from seven women posing anonymously as “Jane Does” who said the singer had a “God-like complex” and used “fame and power” to seduce. his victims. Warning: This article contains documentary content and details of sexual abuse Dressed in a black face mask and gray prison uniform, having been held since 2019, the 55-year-old looked straight ahead as the emotional statements were read. He did not go to court himself. “The pied piper of R&B, both in music and in technique and approach,” said a woman who uses the nickname Angela as she addresses him in the courtroom. “Success and love … you presented these shiny gems as if they were gold. “With each addition of a new victim, evil, arrogance grew, reducing any form of humanity or self-knowledge, which soon became the breeding ground for the God-like complex. “You did, said and encouraged disgusting things that no one should have done. We are claiming our names again under the shadows of your afflicted wound.” Another woman told Kelly, “You are abusive, you are shameless, you are disgusting.” What happened during the trial? Several defendants and witnesses – men and women – had testified against the singer during his trial, with the court hearing how he subjected his victims to perverted and sadistic abuse when he was a minor. Once one of the biggest music stars in the world, a three-time Grammy winner whose top hits include I Believe I Can Fly, Bump ‘N’ Grind and Ignition, the horror of some of his crimes has finally been revealed. Picture: Gloria Allred, pictured outside the courtroom before the hearing, represents some of the victims The real name, Robert Sylvester Kelly, had denied all allegations, his lawyers called his accusers “disgruntled groups” and said they were lying, arguing that any “relationships” agreed. However, the jury believed the survivors. Kelly was also found guilty of nine counts – one count of extortion and eight counts of violating a law banning people from crossing state lines for prostitution. Among the many miserable allegations, jurors heard evidence of a fraudulent marriage plan designed to protect Kelly after fearing he had infiltrated R&B artist Aaliyah in 1994 when she was just 15 years old. Prosecutors had said before the sentencing hearing that he should spend more than 25 years in prison, saying he had shown “sincere contempt” for his victims and had shown no remorse. But Kelly’s lawyers argued that he did not deserve more than 10 years, the minimum required, saying his history as an abused child may have led to his adult “hypersexuality” – and that he was no longer a danger to the public. They said he planned to appeal the verdict. Read more: Key allegations heard during the trialR Kelly: A timeline of abuse Everyone knew the allegations – why did it take 30 years to get justice? One of the victims, whom Kelly sexually assaulted when she was 17 – which led to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder – told the singer that the abuse was not an excuse for his crimes. “Robert, you have ruined so many lives,” he said. Another told the court: “As a teenager, I did not know how to say no to R Kelly when he asked me to give him oral sex. He then paused and addressed Kelly, “Do you remember that?” Kelly is one of the most prominent people convicted of sexual harassment since the rise of the #MeToo movement. He is also facing a second trial in Chicago in August that could lead to additional convictions and imprisonment. In this case, he is accused of possessing child pornography and obstructing justice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York described the conviction as “a significant result for all the victims of R Kelly, and especially for the survivors who testified so bravely to the horrific and sadistic abuse they suffered.” “R Kelly is a predator and as a result of our prosecution, he will serve a significant prison sentence for his crimes,” he said in a statement.
