R. Kelly will receive his sentence in New York before the start of his trial in Chicago

R. Kelly would have liked that the jury of the Chicago trial, which starts on August 1, does not hear the statement of the sentences which await him in New York, but it is missed. The singer’s lawyer had pleaded that the statements that will be made during this hearing “could be used against him”, but Judge Ann M. Donnelly highlighted the well-being of the plaintiffs.

The interpreter of I Believe I Can Fly was convicted of nine counts in federal court in Brooklyn last September. According to his lawyer, the artist would ultimately be inclined to make certain statements that could ease his sentence. He was accused of having set up a system to recruit women, especially minors, in order to sexually abuse them.

Long procedure

Any statements by R. Kelly could turn against him in his trial in Chicago where he will be tried for possession of child pornography and obstruction. For the New York judge, the victims have already “waited years to see the accused held responsible and sentenced for his crimes”, as reported by Billboard.

A hearing was scheduled for May 4, already nine months after the verdict. Out of the question for the judge to postpone for four additional months. She still agreed to give the fallen artist some respite to find out if he will be sentenced to life in prison (which he risks in New York), but not too much. R. Kelly will finally receive his sentence on June 16.

This hearing should not mark the end of the judicial component in New York, since the singer has asked the courts to cancel his conviction or to retry him. Why ? He believes that he was very poorly defended during his trial by his previous legal team, which he had dismissed. These two lawyers, who suddenly became incompetent in the eyes of the singer, had nevertheless replaced the two previous representatives of the artist. The latter had preferred to throw in the towel when they found that their client was giving full powers to these newcomers, who had never pleaded such a case.

R. Kelly is now defended by Jennifer Bonjean, the lawyer who succeeded in having Bill Cosby’s conviction overturned.