Just a week before Kelly is set to be sentenced on child pornography charges, a federal judge has denied his bid for a new trial. The singer has been convicted on six counts of child pornography and enticing minors to engage in illegal sexual activity after a trial in Chicago last year.
Judge Rejects Kelly’s Bid for a New Trial
In a blow to the R&B singer, a Chicago federal judge has rejected Kelly’s bid for a new trial in child pornography charges. The verdict means the disgraced singer will be sentenced next week on his latest convictions, which could see him spend between 10 and 90 years in prison.
On Thursday, Judge Harry Leinenweber rejected Kelly’s motion for a new trial, saying prosecutors had “presented sufficient evidence” to establish a guilty verdict on all six counts that Kelly was convicted of.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Kelly filmed videotapes of sexual encounters with children and coerced their parents to testify falsely about the abuse. They also said he paid off witnesses, bribed reporters and even threatened to destroy evidence.
Prosecutor’s Star Witness “Jane Doe” Testified Falsely
Star witnesses are a type of expert witness who are called upon by lawyers to provide evidence in important legal cases. They can be former employees, victims of a crime, or other individuals who can offer incriminating information about a defendant.
Often, lawyers groom their star witnesses carefully before they put them on the stand. They may take them through a mock courtroom to practice their testimony and make them familiar with what the cross examination will feel like.
One of the prosecution’s star witnesses in Kelly’s case was “Jane Doe” #3, a woman who met Kelly at a mall outside Chicago. The singer allegedly forced her to sign a non-disclosure agreement and told her not to speak to anyone. She said he sometimes chastised her by spanking her hard enough to leave bruises and that he impregnated her. He also pushed her to have an unwanted abortion, she testified.
Kelly’s Defense Team Claims Prosecutor’s Star Witness “Jane Doe” Misled the Jury
In her closing arguments, Kelly’s defense team argued that the prosecution’s star witness “Jane Doe” misled the jury. During testimony, she lied about her relationship with Kelly and her alcohol addiction.
She also allegedly misrepresented her sex history with Kelly and falsely testified that she contracted herpes during her sex with the singer.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutors said Kelly for years commanded close associates to help him target, groom and exploit girls, boys and young women for his own sexual gratification.
The prosecutor told the jury that Kelly’s criminal enterprise was made up of managers and aides who met and sex-tested girls and then sent them to work in his business.
During the trial, prosecutors played several videotapes of Kelly’s alleged abuses. During testimony, Kelly’s accusers cried while describing how they were targeted for sex by Kelly and his enablers. Ultimately, Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison for racketeering and sex trafficking in June.
Judge Denies Kelly’s Bid for a New Trial
In a move that could further hamstring the Grammy-winning R&B singer, a federal judge has rejected Kelly’s bid for a new trial in child pornography charges. The ruling Thursday by Judge Ann Donnelly clears the way for a sentencing next week, in which Kelly faces between 10 and 90 years in prison.
A key witness in the prosecutors’ case was a 14-year-old girl who went by the name of “Jane.” She said she was sexually abused hundreds of times by Kelly and that the singer repeatedly lied to police about videotaping their encounters.
The judge also ruled that Jane testified falsely about her ages, saying she was still under 18 at the time. That testimony was disputed by defense counsel, who claimed that Jane lied during her cross-examination.
But Judge Donnelly denied Kelly’s request for a delay, saying she needed to give him more time to work with a potential mitigation expert to help him avoid a prison term. She also noted that she was concerned about Kelly contracting the Coronavirus while in custody at MCC Chicago.
