Chicago, IL — A federal prosecutor made an initial attempt at shedding light on R. Kelly’s “dark side” during opening statements for the disgraced artist’s federal sex crimes and child pornography trial in Chicago on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
According to the Chicago TribuneJason Julien, the Assistant U.S. attorney, told jurors that the singer was a superstar. “had another side, a hidden side, a dark side, that he … did not allow the world to see.” Julien also accused Kelly’s co-defendants, Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown of knowing about Kelly’s alleged actions, and helping him keep that “dark side” private.
Julien continued to show Kelly a preview of the case that prosecutors would build throughout the trial. He claimed Kelly was the one who made it. “had sex with multiple children”And that he “made videotapes of himself having sex with children,”This includes his goddaughter, which he identified as “Jane.” Jurors will be shown parts of three videos that allegedly show Kelly and Jane, and in two of them, Kelly allegedly refers to Jane’s “14-year-old” anatomy.
Julien pointed out that Kelly had been to “extraordinary lengths”After investigators started investigating the sexual misconduct allegations against him, he took steps to protect himself. He claimed that there was a fourth tape that contained child pornography. The jury was not allowed to see any of the material because Kelly and his associates allegedly covered it up. Julien stated that they would be hearing testimony from witnesses who could testify to its existence.
Kelly faces multiple charges for coercing five minors to sex acts and several other charges related to child pornography production. He, McDavid and Brown were also accused of receiving child pornography in an alleged attempt to recover missing tapes which allegedly showed Kelly engaging in sex acts alongside minors. Kelly and McDavid are also facing obstruction of justice charges tied to allegations that they paid off people who knew about Kelly’s alleged abuse, and tried to impede the 2008 child pornography investigation into Kelly. They have all pleaded not guilty.
Kelly, who was wearing a dark suit at the trial, received more support each day. A fan sporting a R. Kelly tattoo yelled his name at Kelly as the trial ended and gave him a hug.
The defense teams for the three on trial appeared as a united front in their opening statements about prosecutors’ witnesses, whom they painted as blackmailers and liars who are testifying in exchange for immunity. However, they diverged when it came to McDavid and Brown’s teams distancing their clients from knowledge of Kelly’s alleged sexual acts with underage girls depicted on the tapes.
Kelly’s defense attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, attempted to rebut the prosecution’s case in her opening statement, saying it “really does hinge on the testimony of liars, extortionists, people who engaged in the business of trafficking pornography.”Bonjean admitted that “Mr. Kelly is imperfect… It is important when the government wants to paint him as a monster that you remember we are talking about a human being. We implore you to keep those emotions in check.”
The third day of the trial also included opening statements on behalf of defendant McDavid from one of his lawyers, Vadim Glozman, who claimed to the court that Kelly’s former business manager believed — as others did at the time — that the tape central to the 2008 case (and part of the current case) was “fake.”Glozman stated that McDavid was simply doing his job when McDavid hired an entire team of investigators and attorneys to whom he deferred, who all did their jobs “with excellence.’ None would risk their reputations to obstruct justice to hide or possess child pornography, Glozman said. “He has absolutely nothing to hide. He will tell you in his own words.”
Kathleen Leon, an Attorney for Brown stated in their brief Opening Statement that he was not a “right-hand man” that prosecutors might make him out to be, and instead was just like many of Kelly’s low-level staffers, who were “kept in the dark”Learn more about the inner-workings. “Milton followed the rules. He kept his head down.”Leon claimed that Brown believed the video was also fraudulent. “fake”It was at that time.
After opening statements, three witnesses were called by the prosecution. Dr. Darrel Turn, a clinical and forensic psychologist, described his knowledge of grooming and the effects on young victims of sexual abuse. The Recording Academy’s Ann Meckelborg, who is custodian of records for the Grammy Awards, discussed Kelly’s three wins for “I Believe I Can Fly”his performance during the 1998 broadcast.
On Wednesday, Daniel Everett, a retired Chicago detective, testified as the third witness. Kelly was first investigated by him, he stated. Kelly was initially investigated after an anonymous report made about child abuse allegations against a minor. “a known celebrity.” The minor was allegedly Jane, who Everett said he’d interviewed along with her parents at a shoe store in the suburbs. Jane claimed Kelly was her Godfather and said he did no abuse her. Everett filed an investigation confirming her parents’ claim. “unfounded.”
Everett was sent a tape in February 2002 by Jim DeRogatis. Chicago Sun-Times, that allegedly depicted Kelly having sex with Jane — the footage central to the 2008 case and also a focus in the current proceedings. Everett recognized Jane during his 2000 investigation. Shortly after, he and other law enforcement searched Kelly’s home, where Everett recognized “several similar settings”It is shown in the tape. It was “very obvious this was where it took place,”He added. He stated that he tried to interview Jane and her family but could not connect with them.
Everett returns to the stand on Thursday for cross examination
Kelly’s trial in Chicago began just over a month after he was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty on all counts of racketeering and sex trafficking against him for a federal case in Brooklyn last year.
This story was updated Aug. 17, at 8:40 pm, from the original Aug. 17, 2:49 PM publish time. It now includes in-court reporting witness testimony and opening statements.