R. Kelly’s lawyer urges jurors to not consider him as a ‘monster’ in Chicago trial

R. Kelly’s lawyer urges jurors to not consider him as a ‘monster’ in Chicago trial

Updated on August 19, 2022 12:29 PM by Sally Harbor

R.Kelly had kept his life hidden as he escaped his poor conditions in the city of Chicago and rose to pop music stardom. But his jurors on Wednesday at the trial of his charges which accused him of enticing girls for sex and rigging a 2008 child pornography case made a statement for the singer.

The opening statement of the attorney and her protection of the client 

Kelly’s lead attorney implored jurors during her opening statement at the federal trial in Chicago not to accept what she said was the prosecution's portrayal of her client as "a monster."

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Back in the 1990s, much of the world knew only about his hit songs including the chart-topping inspirational anthem "I Believe I Can Fly," U.S. Assistant Attorney Jason Julien said in her opening statement. But "Kelly had another side … a hidden side, a dark side," he added. "This trial is about Kelly's hidden side."

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R.Kelly and the charges that he has been imposed: 

R.Kelly,55, has faced multiple charges in his second federal trial including enticing minors for sex, producing child pornography, and rigging his 2008 child pornography state trial at which he was acquitted.

Kelly, who has denied any wrongdoing, has been trailed for decades by complaints and allegations about his sexual behavior. The scrutiny on Kelly intensified after the Me Too movement era and the 2019 six-part documentary "Surviving R Kelly" that detailed sex abuse allegations involving women and teenage girls.

Also read: Woman With 'Demonic Look' Arrested for Fatal Stabbing During Sex: Police

Defense attorney Jeniffer Bonjean told jurors that Kelly because of his intellectual challenges that included illiteracy was forced to rely on others as his career took off and that he was sometimes led astray by those in his circle of associates." Mr. Kelly can also be a victim," she said.

A conviction in Chicago could add decades to a 30-year prison sentence he already received from a New York federal judge after he was convicted of charges that he used his fame to sexually abuse other young fans.

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As the prosecutor spoke during the trial, Kelly occasionally shook his head as Julien described Kelly manipulating and controlling girls — even beating them if they didn't comply with strict rules that included calling him "daddy."

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His attorney sought to give jurors a sense of the scale of Kelly's alleged exploitation, saying he "repeatedly" had sex with girls who were just 14, 15, and 16 years old and also emphasized "multiple girls, hundreds of times."

Jason Julien told jurors that the evidence includes at least three videos showing Kelly having sex with underage girls.

Also read: R. Kelly trial: Singer has a dark side hidden from the public - prosecutor

“We're not going to play hours of child pornography and make you watch it," the prosecutor said, explaining they would see excerpts. He added: "The videos are difficult to watch. But it is important to watch ... to understand what happened."

The video that was the centerpiece of Kelly's 2008 trial was admitted into evidence later on Wednesday, but no portions of it were seen by the jury before the day's proceedings came to a close. Kelly is shown in a video, according to the prosecution, having sex with a young girl when he was around 30. 

Kelly nodded in agreement when his attorney reminded the jury that all Kelly wants is a fair trial and not any special treatment.

"When the government wants to paint him as a monster … you remember we are talking about a human being," Bonjean said.

Defense from the attorney for Kelly who is in charge of all the wrongdoings 

She said jurors should not succumb to what she called "a mob justice climate" surrounding Kelly, alluding to "Surviving R.Kelly" and years of harsh social media accounts of him.

"Mr. Kelly is indeed imperfect," she said. "On his journey from poverty to stardom, he stumbled along the way." But, she said, she was confident jurors would ultimately find him not guilty.

Also read: Girl in child pornography tapes allegedly made by R. Kelly expected to testify against the singer, associates at Chicago trial

After jurors stated the acquisition of ofKelly at his state trial in 2008, some later explained that they felt they had no choice because the girl did not testify. The woman, now 37 and referred to in court filings as "Minor 1," will be the government's star witness. During the trial, she will be referred to by a single pseudonym, "Jane," in court.

Kelly also faces four counts of enticement of minors for sex — one each for four other accusers. They, too, are expected to testify. Two Kelly associates, Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown are co-defendants in the case McDavid is accused of helping Kelly fix the 2008 trial, while Brown is charged with receiving child pornography. 

The jury was impaneled on Tuesday night with prosecutors and defense attorneys arguing toward the end of the process about whether the government was improperly attempting to keep some Black people off the jury. Kelly is Black.

About half the 12 jurors impaneled were identified as Black by the judge, prosecutor, and defense attorneys. There are also five alternates.

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