|
 In his closing argument in
Brooklyn federal court, Kelly's lawyer Deveraux
Cannick portrayed the singer's accusers as
former fans or jilted lovers hoping to cash in
on his fame, whether through book contracts or
media appearances such as in "Surviving R.
Kelly," the 2019 Lifetime documentary.
"They're monetizing. They know what the game is.
They're surviving off of R. Kelly," Cannick
said, invoking the late civil rights leader
Martin Luther King Jr as he implored jurors to
summon what he called the courage to acquit the
54-year-old singer.
Cannick spoke after Assistant U.S. Attorney
Elizabeth Geddes finished her closing argument,
which lasted about six hours spread over two
days.
Geddes reviewed testimony from dozens of
accusers, former employees and others against
the singer, whose full name is Robert Sylvester
Kelly, including that he videotaped his exploits
and hid his herpes diagnosis prior to
intercourse.
"It is time to hold the defendant responsible
for the pain he inflicted on each of his
victims," Geddes concluded, repeating the name
of each accuser. "It is now time for the
defendant Robert Kelly to pay for his crimes.
Convict him."
Known for the 1996 Grammy-winning smash "I
Believe I Can Fly," Kelly pleaded not guilty to
one count of racketeering and eight counts of
illegally transporting people across state lines
for prostitution in a trial that began on Aug.
18.
Prosecutors have portrayed Kelly as a violent
predator who used his fame and charisma and
deployed people who worked for him to lure women
and underage girls into his sphere.
Kelly is one of the most prominent people tried
for sexual misconduct during the #MeToo
movement, and has for many years denied sexual
abuse accusations.
His alleged victims include the late singer
Aaliyah, who died in a 2001 plane crash.
Jury deliberations may begin on Friday, after
U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly instructs
jurors on the law.
[to top of second column]
|
 MIXED EMOTIONS
Wearing black glasses, Kelly had different
reactions as he listened to closing arguments.
He hung his head after Geddes said one associate
had copied him on a threatening email to a
victim, but later leaned forward and focused
intensely on Cannick as his lawyer described his
accusers' testimony as "just like butter,
fluid."
Cannick accused prosecutors of trying to turn
everything Kelly did into a crime, when in fact
he treated them "like gold" and took them on
shopping sprees that cost more than cars.
He dismissed Jerhonda Pace, the first accuser to
testify against Kelly, as a "groupie, stalker
extraordinaire," and said Kelly's use of
nondisclosure agreements was common in the
entertainment industry because many people are
targets.
Cannick also invoked the civil rights movement
and King's 1968 assassination to try to persuade
jurors to hold prosecutors accountable for
failing to prove Kelly's guilt.
"I told you about Dr. King and the people of
courage for a reason," Cannick said. "Getting a
conviction of R. Kelly is a big deal, but a
bigger deal is fairness."
He urged jurors to use their common sense.
"Somebody's life is at stake here," he said.
Kelly did not testify in his own defense, which
could have exposed him to days of tough
questioning from prosecutors.
He faces separate criminal charges in federal
court in Chicago, and state charges in Illinois
and Minnesota.
(Reporting by Tyler Clifford and Luc Cohen in
New York; Editing by Howard Goller)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content |
