"Have you ever seen a man eat his own head?"
Posted on 08/18/2021 10:38:33 AM PDT by RandFan
The trial of the US R&B singer R. Kelly has begun at a court in Brooklyn, New York.
The star is accused of racketeering, sexual abuse and bribery; charges which he has repeatedly denied.
Some of the allegations made against the singer - whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly - date back more than 20 years.
If he is convicted on all counts he could be sentenced to several decades in prison.
Opening statements are being delivered to a jury of seven men and five women, who will decide the 54-year-old singer's fate.
Kelly faces charges that he was the ringleader of a two-decade scheme where he recruited women and underage girls for sex.
"This case is about a predator," Assistant US Attorney Maria Melendez said in her opening statement.
She described Kelly as "a man who used lies, manipulation, threats and physical abuse to dominate his victims and to avoid accountability for years".
"A man who for decades used his fame, his popularity, and a network of people at his disposal to target, groom and exploit young girls, boys and women for his own sexual gratification," she continued.
The Grammy-winning artist - wearing a gray suit, purple tie, and glasses - sat silently, his head down at times as the prosecution opened its case.
Melendez said Kelly's celebrity status meant he "had his pick of young fans" and that he hoarded his victims "like objects".
She said he used "every trick in the predator handbook".
Kelly is accused of requiring victims to demonstrate "absolute commitment" and obey strict rules, including that they eat or go to the bathroom only with his permission, not look at other men, and call him "Daddy."
He has pleaded not guilty and strongly denies any wrongdoing.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Creepy.
ok, NOW i have seen everything
lol
"Have you ever seen a man eat his own head?"
Years ago someone tipped off the police and the media about a series of videos taken with young girls that should have put him away for life. Instead he bought himself years of freedom and new victims. It’s long past time he got what was coming to him.
The dummy should have joined the Taliban.
he was sorta-big as an R&B musician back in the 90s.
not really sure why this is on free republic, though.
these dumb girls and women- one of the vics was in her mid thirties- all went to screw the great R Kelly and now are saying he made them stay.
I say horseshit.
Some of these girls were young as 15, and flew to be with Kelly, and moms was ok with that.
NOW it’s a problem.
His victims all seem to be photographed smiling with armfuls of shopping bags and his credit card in their pockets.
I hate to burst your bubble but in this country even if you treat a 12 year old girl well having sex with her is still against the law.
You're not bursting my bubble, I think he should be prosecuted.
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