Thursday, July 31, 2008
With all of that pesky child pornography crap behind him, looks like the dirty uncle of R&B, R. KELLY is putting the finishing touches on his new CD 12 Play Fourth Quarter.
But there's already a bit of controversy surrounding the project, that leaked to internet yesterday. Some are saying it was Kelly's camp that leaked what amounts to almost an entire disc. while Kelly's camp are insisting that what's been downloaded over 100,000 times are simply "throw-away" tracks.
Either way, many are waiting to see what the public's response will be to Kellz' typical, sexually charged lyrics, after being found not-guilty of having sex with a minor.
The lead single for the project "Hairbraider" was released in May, only to meet lukewarm reception. Though some industry insiders insist the singers legal status had nothing to do with the singles flop.
"It's not relevant," said one Jive rec exec who chose to remain anonymous. "Nobody is wearing braid anymore. The kids today can't relate to Kelly, he's officially become their mother's music."
Sources are also confirming that Kelly is looking to get out of his multi-million dollar contract with his longtime label Jive, feeling that now that his legal problems are behind him, he could get a better deal elsewhere.
But only time will tell.
R. KELLY - 12 Play Fourth Quarter
Friday, June 13, 2008
A jury has found R. Kelly not guilty of the first seven child pornography charges.
Kelly had long denied being on the video tape at the center of the trial -- and even the alleged victim denied it was her! But 12 different witnesses ID'd Kelly and 14 witnesses ID'd the girl on the tape as being a 13- or 14-year-old.
Kelly had long denied being on the video tape at the center of the trial -- and even the alleged victim denied it was her! But 12 different witnesses ID'd Kelly and 14 witnesses ID'd the girl on the tape as being a 13- or 14-year-old.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
SO WE WAITED 6 YEARS FOR R. KELLY, AND HE'S FINISHED ALREADY?
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 9:38 AM
Talk about a let-down. After only two days and a lackluster 12 witnesses, R. Kelly's A-List defense team rested it's case yesterday in his long-awaited child pornography trial.
After six years of various stalls, medical mishaps and Kelly's impassioned pleas for his fans to reserve judgement until the publication of all of the facts; one might question, why such a half-hearted defense?
The prosecution called well over two-dozen witnesses, including FBI video-tape experts, forensic specialists and the alledged victims (Kelly's God-daughter) own family memebers. But Kelly's defense chose a "low-ball" stratgey," and made a decision that might become the very thing thing that does Robert Kelly in: He didn't take the stand in his own defense.
There is a very well-known legal footnote that a lawyer cannot put a witness on the stand and knowingly allow said witness to lie. Let me break that down for you: Let's say R. Kelly had've taken the stand. Had the DA, during cross-examination, directly asked Kelly if he had in fact had sex with the girl in question, and or had he made the video-tape that sparked this entire investigation, and Kelly answered "No." Had his lawyer, Ed Gensen known Kelly's denial to be a lie, he would have a ethical obligaiton to ask to speak to the judge in chambers and ake him aware of his clients purgary. So I ask again: why would a completely innnocent man, with not only his freedom on the line, but also a man whose career finaially supports over half of his family, not take the stand in his own defense?
The prosecution plans to put on two rebuttal witnesses on Tuesday: An assistant district attorney from Fulton County, Georgia, and its forensic video expert who has already testified. Closing arguments are expected Thursday.
The defense and prosecution stipulated to the testimony of two witnesses this morning — personal injury lawyer William "Buddy" Myers and a court reporter. Defense lawyer Ed Genson read the brief stipulations to the jury.
If called to testify, Myers would say family members of the girl allegedly in the tape contacted him about representing them — though he did not possess a copy of the sex tape. The Myers stipluation conflicts directly with the testimony of Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, the aunt of the girl allegedly in the tape.
Edwards testified Myers contacted her in December 2001, saying that he had the tape. Myers then sent a representative to her home to show her the tape, she said.
The court reporter stipulated to transcribing the grand jury testimony of Bennie Edwards Sr., the uncle of the alleged victim. Edwards Sr. was one of several family members called by the prosecution to testify to the identity of the girl on the tape.
On Tuesday, the prosecution plans to call assistant district attorney Robert Wolf from the Atlanta prosecutor's office. Wolf will testify that the fiance of Lisa Van Allen — who alleged she was in a threesome with Kelly and the underage girl — was not offered a deal in exchange for her helping the Kelly prosecution.
In cross-examining Van Allen last week, defense lawyers pointed out that Van Allen's fiance, Yul Brown, was arrested on gun and drug charges shortly before they reached out to Cook County prosecutors with Van Allen's information about Kelly. Brown got probation.
Additional reporting from The Chicago Sun-Times
After six years of various stalls, medical mishaps and Kelly's impassioned pleas for his fans to reserve judgement until the publication of all of the facts; one might question, why such a half-hearted defense?
The prosecution called well over two-dozen witnesses, including FBI video-tape experts, forensic specialists and the alledged victims (Kelly's God-daughter) own family memebers. But Kelly's defense chose a "low-ball" stratgey," and made a decision that might become the very thing thing that does Robert Kelly in: He didn't take the stand in his own defense.
There is a very well-known legal footnote that a lawyer cannot put a witness on the stand and knowingly allow said witness to lie. Let me break that down for you: Let's say R. Kelly had've taken the stand. Had the DA, during cross-examination, directly asked Kelly if he had in fact had sex with the girl in question, and or had he made the video-tape that sparked this entire investigation, and Kelly answered "No." Had his lawyer, Ed Gensen known Kelly's denial to be a lie, he would have a ethical obligaiton to ask to speak to the judge in chambers and ake him aware of his clients purgary. So I ask again: why would a completely innnocent man, with not only his freedom on the line, but also a man whose career finaially supports over half of his family, not take the stand in his own defense?
The prosecution plans to put on two rebuttal witnesses on Tuesday: An assistant district attorney from Fulton County, Georgia, and its forensic video expert who has already testified. Closing arguments are expected Thursday.
The defense and prosecution stipulated to the testimony of two witnesses this morning — personal injury lawyer William "Buddy" Myers and a court reporter. Defense lawyer Ed Genson read the brief stipulations to the jury.
If called to testify, Myers would say family members of the girl allegedly in the tape contacted him about representing them — though he did not possess a copy of the sex tape. The Myers stipluation conflicts directly with the testimony of Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, the aunt of the girl allegedly in the tape.
Edwards testified Myers contacted her in December 2001, saying that he had the tape. Myers then sent a representative to her home to show her the tape, she said.
The court reporter stipulated to transcribing the grand jury testimony of Bennie Edwards Sr., the uncle of the alleged victim. Edwards Sr. was one of several family members called by the prosecution to testify to the identity of the girl on the tape.
On Tuesday, the prosecution plans to call assistant district attorney Robert Wolf from the Atlanta prosecutor's office. Wolf will testify that the fiance of Lisa Van Allen — who alleged she was in a threesome with Kelly and the underage girl — was not offered a deal in exchange for her helping the Kelly prosecution.
In cross-examining Van Allen last week, defense lawyers pointed out that Van Allen's fiance, Yul Brown, was arrested on gun and drug charges shortly before they reached out to Cook County prosecutors with Van Allen's information about Kelly. Brown got probation.
Additional reporting from The Chicago Sun-Times
Monday, June 2, 2008
Lisa Van Allen's testimony lived up to its explosive billing this lunchtime. She's still being questioned, but she's already dropped several bombshells, saying she had three-way sex with Kelly and the alleged victim in this case at least three times.
Van Allen said she had met R. Kelly at the video shoot for "Home Alone," in which she appeared, in late 1997 or early 1998. Kelly's cousin, "Blacky" invited her to join Kelly in Kelly's trailer, she said. She talked with Kelly and ended up having "intercourse" with him in the trailer, she said. She was 17 at the time, she said.
The pair exchanged numbers and Van Allen soon visited Kelly in Chicago, eventually giving up her job in Atlanta to be with him full time. Kelly paid for her to stay in hotels and she spent most of her time with him at the studio, she said.
Van Allen said she went on tour with Kelly and was picked out of the crowd at the end of each show to perform simulated sex with him on stage at each show's finale.
In late 1998, she testified, Kelly took her to his former home on the North Side of Chicago, where she met the alleged victim in this case for the first time. Kelly taped them while they had three-way sex in his "log-cabin" room, she said. That's the same room he's alleged to have filmed the tape in this case. Kelly told her the alleged victim was 16, she said.
On another occasion, following an awards ceremony in Chicago at which Kelly had been honored, Van Allen, Kelly and the alleged victim in this case again had videotaped three-way sex. But this time they did it on Kelly's basketball court.
"He took up his camera and we took off our clothes and we all had sex again," she said. Van Allen said Kelly stopped the sex session after she broke down crying. "I didn't want to do it," she said.
On a third occasion, sometime in 2000, Kelly, Van Allen and the alleged victim romped again, this time in his trailer at the video shoot for "Woman's Threat," Van Allen said. Kelly and the alleged victim ran naked to hide after somebody knocked on the door and disturbed them, she said.
Van Allen said Kelly carried a "duffel bag" with his home-made porn it wherever he went.
"He carried it everywhere," she said. "If we was at the studio, it was in the studio with him; if he was at Hoops (his gym) it would be at Hoops with him...the bag would follow him."
Van Allen confessed she had stolen R. Kelly's Rolex watch from a Georgia hotel in 2001. She said she had been granted state and federal immunity from prosecution for child porn in return for her testimony.
Asked why she had come forward to testify, she said, "It's the right thing to do."
She said she was not there when the tape at the center of this case was made, but identified the alleged victim and Kelly as being on that tape.
On cross-examination, R. Kelly's attorney Sam Adam Sr. is attempting to paint Lisa Van Allen as a liar and a thief.
Adam got Van Allen to admit that she had relationships with two men convicted for fraud in the federal courts. One - Damon Pryor - is the so-called "mystery witness" who flew into town at the last minute last week. He's the father of Van Allen's child. The other man - Yul Brown - is Van Allen's current partner.
Under questioning from Adam, Van Allen said that she knew Pryor had served time for fraud before they met in 2001. She also knew Brown was a fraudster, she said.
She laughed when Adam asked her if she only dated men with federal fraud convictions.
While they were together, Pryor told her "how you interject yourself into a case - that you go at the last minute" with important testimony, she said. Van Allen agreed with Adam that Pryor was a "conman," describing their relationship as "a mistake."
Adam pointed out that Van Allen had not come forward for nearly five-and-a-half years as a witness against Kelly, suggesting a link between Pryor's advice and her late emergence as a witness.
But Van Allen denied telling Pryor that the tape at the center of the case was a fake, or that she had told him she planned to extort cash from Kelly. She denied telling a Minnesota woman the same thing, also denying that she knew two men called "Chuck and Keith" had staged the tape at the center of the case to get money from Kelly.
The Minnesota woman, Lena Prado, has not been mentioned in court before, but Van Allen said she had known her since 1999. Van Allen denied having a sexual relationship with Prado.
Van Allen did admit to stealing Kelly's $20,000 Rolex from his hotel room. Asked why she had never admitted stealing the watch until today, she said, "That's not what (R. Kelly's) on trial for."
[Editors Note: 'Lena Prado' is really Adalina "Birdie" Prado, a 27 year old woman from the Chicago suburbs. IF it becomes relevant, we'll talk more about this.]
Sun-Times
Van Allen said she had met R. Kelly at the video shoot for "Home Alone," in which she appeared, in late 1997 or early 1998. Kelly's cousin, "Blacky" invited her to join Kelly in Kelly's trailer, she said. She talked with Kelly and ended up having "intercourse" with him in the trailer, she said. She was 17 at the time, she said.
The pair exchanged numbers and Van Allen soon visited Kelly in Chicago, eventually giving up her job in Atlanta to be with him full time. Kelly paid for her to stay in hotels and she spent most of her time with him at the studio, she said.
Van Allen said she went on tour with Kelly and was picked out of the crowd at the end of each show to perform simulated sex with him on stage at each show's finale.
In late 1998, she testified, Kelly took her to his former home on the North Side of Chicago, where she met the alleged victim in this case for the first time. Kelly taped them while they had three-way sex in his "log-cabin" room, she said. That's the same room he's alleged to have filmed the tape in this case. Kelly told her the alleged victim was 16, she said.
On another occasion, following an awards ceremony in Chicago at which Kelly had been honored, Van Allen, Kelly and the alleged victim in this case again had videotaped three-way sex. But this time they did it on Kelly's basketball court.
"He took up his camera and we took off our clothes and we all had sex again," she said. Van Allen said Kelly stopped the sex session after she broke down crying. "I didn't want to do it," she said.
On a third occasion, sometime in 2000, Kelly, Van Allen and the alleged victim romped again, this time in his trailer at the video shoot for "Woman's Threat," Van Allen said. Kelly and the alleged victim ran naked to hide after somebody knocked on the door and disturbed them, she said.
Van Allen said Kelly carried a "duffel bag" with his home-made porn it wherever he went.
"He carried it everywhere," she said. "If we was at the studio, it was in the studio with him; if he was at Hoops (his gym) it would be at Hoops with him...the bag would follow him."
Van Allen confessed she had stolen R. Kelly's Rolex watch from a Georgia hotel in 2001. She said she had been granted state and federal immunity from prosecution for child porn in return for her testimony.
Asked why she had come forward to testify, she said, "It's the right thing to do."
She said she was not there when the tape at the center of this case was made, but identified the alleged victim and Kelly as being on that tape.
On cross-examination, R. Kelly's attorney Sam Adam Sr. is attempting to paint Lisa Van Allen as a liar and a thief.
Adam got Van Allen to admit that she had relationships with two men convicted for fraud in the federal courts. One - Damon Pryor - is the so-called "mystery witness" who flew into town at the last minute last week. He's the father of Van Allen's child. The other man - Yul Brown - is Van Allen's current partner.
Under questioning from Adam, Van Allen said that she knew Pryor had served time for fraud before they met in 2001. She also knew Brown was a fraudster, she said.
She laughed when Adam asked her if she only dated men with federal fraud convictions.
While they were together, Pryor told her "how you interject yourself into a case - that you go at the last minute" with important testimony, she said. Van Allen agreed with Adam that Pryor was a "conman," describing their relationship as "a mistake."
Adam pointed out that Van Allen had not come forward for nearly five-and-a-half years as a witness against Kelly, suggesting a link between Pryor's advice and her late emergence as a witness.
But Van Allen denied telling Pryor that the tape at the center of the case was a fake, or that she had told him she planned to extort cash from Kelly. She denied telling a Minnesota woman the same thing, also denying that she knew two men called "Chuck and Keith" had staged the tape at the center of the case to get money from Kelly.
The Minnesota woman, Lena Prado, has not been mentioned in court before, but Van Allen said she had known her since 1999. Van Allen denied having a sexual relationship with Prado.
Van Allen did admit to stealing Kelly's $20,000 Rolex from his hotel room. Asked why she had never admitted stealing the watch until today, she said, "That's not what (R. Kelly's) on trial for."
[Editors Note: 'Lena Prado' is really Adalina "Birdie" Prado, a 27 year old woman from the Chicago suburbs. IF it becomes relevant, we'll talk more about this.]
Sun-Times
Thursday, May 29, 2008
R. KELLY'S MYSTERY WITNESS WON'T GIVE UP HIS SSN...HE'S DELAYING THE TRIAL
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 4:12 PM
Damon Pryor -- The mystery witness dramatically flown in from out of state last night by R. Kelly's attorneys -- has refused to give his social security number to the prosecution, further delaying the testimony of a potentially crucial state's witness.
Defense attorneys hope the mystery witness can cast doubt on the story of an Atlanta woman, due to testify today that she participated in three-way sex with Kelly and the alleged victim in this case.
Defense attorneys hope the mystery witness can cast doubt on the story of an Atlanta woman, due to testify today that she participated in three-way sex with Kelly and the alleged victim in this case.
So basically what you're saying is, he's got warrants.
A SURPRISE WITNESS HALTS TESTIMONY FOR A DAY IN THE R. KELLY TRIAL
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 10:37 AM
Testimony ended abruptly in the R. Kelly child pornography trial today — because of a last-minute defense witness who could undermine the testimony of a woman who allegedly had a threesome with Kelly and an underage girl.
The prosecution witness, a single mother from Atlanta, had been scheduled to testify this afternoon. But at about 1 p.m., Judge Vincent Gaughan adjourned the proceedings for the day.
Gaughan told the courtroom, out of the jurors’ presence, that defense lawyer Sam Adam Sr. informed him that morning of a new witness —not previously on the defense’s witness list — who had just come to light.
“I have no idea what’s going on. But it might be impeachment of this witness” scheduled for this afternoon, Gaughan said, apparently referring to the Atlanta woman.
Adam told Gaughan the new defense witness is scheduled to arrive this evening at 6 p.m. on a flight into Midway.
“However long it takes, we’ll interview him,” Adam said. “If the state has a fax number, we’ll fax it to them at 2 a.m.”
“We never knew about this witness until approximately 9 o’clock this morning, when the witness called us,” Adam said.
Gaughan said he wanted to give prosecutors time to take the witness’ deposition — a formal interview done under oath before a court reporter.
“I don’t care if the deposition takes place at 7 a.m.,” the judge said.
Kelly, 41, faces 14 counts of child pornography for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl. Kelly’s defense lawyers contend the female on the sex tape is not who prosecutors say it is —and that the man on the tape is not Kelly.
Earlier this month, the Chicago Sun-Times reported the Atlanta woman would testify she had a three-way sexual encounter with Kelly and the underage girl who allegedly appears in the videotape.
If she testifies, she would identify the girl on the tape and say the girl was underage, sources said. She would also identify Kelly as the man on the tape, sources said.
In secret hearings held in April, Gaughan was told a Kelly aide paid the Atlanta woman to get back a copy of a different sex videotape, sources said.
The Kelly aide arranged for the woman to take a polygraph test to determine if she was telling the truth about that tape, sources said.
SOURCE
Friday, May 23, 2008
R&B HAS BEEN SPARKLE TAKES THE STAND AGAINST THE MAN THAT DISCOVERED HER
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 9:51 AM
Another woman identified both the alleged victim and R. Kelly in the singer's sex tape in court today, testifying the girl was a minor when the recording was made. Audrey Hampton, a 23-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin, said she played basketball with the girl and went to school with her for several years.
"There's no question" that's her friend, Hampton said, adding that she recognized her face, voice and some of her mannerisms, such as "the way she licked the bottom of her lip." She admitted under cross-examination, however, that she couldn't recognize her friend's body per se.
Hampton's mother also testified, saying she found the tape in her daughter's bedroom in early 2000, watched it and promptly threw it away without ever showing it to the police.
But the real came with the days final witness.
Wearing hoop earrings and facial glitter, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards clashed Thursday with defense lawyer Ed Genson when he accused her of testifying against R. Kelly for revenge and money.
Edwards had claimed a relative appeared with Kelly on a sex videotape.
Genson's cross-examination of Edwards grew so fierce, the two ended up shouting at each other. Edwards sarcastically called the 66-year-old lawyer "Sweetie."
"I am not your sweetie!" Genson bellowed.
Edwards said her extended family was once "as thick as thieves. You couldn't break the chain."
But a rift opened in December 2001, when Edwards got a call from a lawyer named Buddy Meyers, she said. Meyers wanted her to see a sex videotape that apparently featured a member of her family, Edwards testified. He sent an assistant to Edwards' apartment to show her the tape.
Edwards said she knew instantly the girl on the tape was her relative -- and that the man was Kelly. But others in the family did not want to see the tape.
Edwards recounted how Kelly launched her singing career, writing and producing her million-selling first album.
After that, she broke from Kelly, she said, and never again achieved the same success.
At one point, she introduced him to her young relative. "He liked her spirit. She was a very jolly person at the time," Edwards said. "She was my heart."
Edwards dabbed tears from her eyes during direct examination. But under cross-examination by Genson, she kept her composure.
She said that in spite of no longer working with Kelly, "He was my homeboy. We were still cool."
"You weren't angry you'd been terminated?" Genson asked.
After breaking with Kelly, Edwards talked about a record deal with Barry Hankerson, a producer with a record label.
"Was part of the deal you were talking about doing something bad to Robert?" Genson said.
"No," Edwards said.
The tension mounted as Genson asked if Edwards knew the tape was being sold all around Oak Park, where the family lived. "You don't know if someone put together a tape ... of old footage," Genson said.
"Sir, it's Robert [Kelly] and [the alleged victim] on that tape," Edwards said.
"You don't like Robert!" Genson said.
"I know my family," Edwards retorted.
Also on Thursday, a woman was arrested outside the courtroom after she shouted "Free R. Kelly!" at the jurors as they got off the elevator. She was taken into custody on a contempt charge and held in lieu of $50,000 bail. The jury told the judge they didn't hear what she said and the day continued as scheduled.
SOURCE 1
SOURCE 2
"There's no question" that's her friend, Hampton said, adding that she recognized her face, voice and some of her mannerisms, such as "the way she licked the bottom of her lip." She admitted under cross-examination, however, that she couldn't recognize her friend's body per se.
Hampton's mother also testified, saying she found the tape in her daughter's bedroom in early 2000, watched it and promptly threw it away without ever showing it to the police.
But the real came with the days final witness.
Wearing hoop earrings and facial glitter, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards clashed Thursday with defense lawyer Ed Genson when he accused her of testifying against R. Kelly for revenge and money.
Edwards had claimed a relative appeared with Kelly on a sex videotape.
Genson's cross-examination of Edwards grew so fierce, the two ended up shouting at each other. Edwards sarcastically called the 66-year-old lawyer "Sweetie."
"I am not your sweetie!" Genson bellowed.
Edwards said her extended family was once "as thick as thieves. You couldn't break the chain."
But a rift opened in December 2001, when Edwards got a call from a lawyer named Buddy Meyers, she said. Meyers wanted her to see a sex videotape that apparently featured a member of her family, Edwards testified. He sent an assistant to Edwards' apartment to show her the tape.
Edwards said she knew instantly the girl on the tape was her relative -- and that the man was Kelly. But others in the family did not want to see the tape.
Edwards recounted how Kelly launched her singing career, writing and producing her million-selling first album.
After that, she broke from Kelly, she said, and never again achieved the same success.
At one point, she introduced him to her young relative. "He liked her spirit. She was a very jolly person at the time," Edwards said. "She was my heart."
Edwards dabbed tears from her eyes during direct examination. But under cross-examination by Genson, she kept her composure.
She said that in spite of no longer working with Kelly, "He was my homeboy. We were still cool."
"You weren't angry you'd been terminated?" Genson asked.
After breaking with Kelly, Edwards talked about a record deal with Barry Hankerson, a producer with a record label.
"Was part of the deal you were talking about doing something bad to Robert?" Genson said.
"No," Edwards said.
The tension mounted as Genson asked if Edwards knew the tape was being sold all around Oak Park, where the family lived. "You don't know if someone put together a tape ... of old footage," Genson said.
"Sir, it's Robert [Kelly] and [the alleged victim] on that tape," Edwards said.
"You don't like Robert!" Genson said.
"I know my family," Edwards retorted.
Also on Thursday, a woman was arrested outside the courtroom after she shouted "Free R. Kelly!" at the jurors as they got off the elevator. She was taken into custody on a contempt charge and held in lieu of $50,000 bail. The jury told the judge they didn't hear what she said and the day continued as scheduled.
SOURCE 1
SOURCE 2
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Yesterday prosecutors put Simha Jamison on the stand, and she said that she and the girl alleged to be on the sex tape were best friends for 10 years. Jamison also said that they visited Kelly's studio and b-ball court "dozens of times" from when they were twelve years old. The defense tried every which way to corner Jamison during her testimony, but girlfriend reportedly gave as good as she got.
The alleged victim's aunt and uncle also took the stand and positively ID'd her as well.
The alleged victim's aunt and uncle also took the stand and positively ID'd her as well.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
DRIP DRIP DRIP: R. KELLY'S TAPE PREEMS, A MOLE BECOMES THE NEW GLOVE & MORE JURY DRAMA
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 10:13 AM
Prosecutors kicked off their opening arguments in Kelly's kiddie-porn trial by screening the 26-minute tape responsible for the whole mess, as en rapt jurors stared at a tiny monitor showing what authorities claim is the mega selling R&B star engaged in sex acts with a minor.
While some jurors watched without hesitation, some stole uneasy glances at the defendant, who himself at times appeared outrage and took notes. The preachers wife, spent the entire 26 minutes with her hand covering her mouth.
The grainy tape shows a man handing the female money. Throughout the session he gives her commands and she calls him "Daddy," while she dances to a soundtrack that includes the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys from a nearby radio. After various sex acts, which include masturbation, oral sex and penetration, the video culminates with the man, suspected to the R, urinating on the girl. His face is never clearly visible.
After the tape was shown, Kelly's defense made it's official argument which stood firmly on two, and some might say conflicting points.
The first being that the man on the tape doe not have a prominent mole in the middle of his back, which lawyers claim that Kelly has had since childhood.
The second argument is that the alleged victim at the center of the case, who is now a 23 year old single mother and refused to participate in the prosecutions case, was not underage and that in fact the woman in the video is a prostitute paid for her services.
But one would wonder, if it isn't Kelly on the tape and he had nothing to do with the making of the tape, then how could he know the "real" identity of the woman?
We're also learning more about the juror who was dismissed yesterday. After making claims that serving on the jury would cause her financial hardship, the rape victim was excused from the panel and replaced with a white man in his 20's whose uncle was convicted of child pornography related charges.
And speculation is also swirling around the fact that Robert Kelly's older brother will take the stand for the prosecution. After unsubstantiated allegations surface that Kelly had molested a female family member, Kelly's brother came forward as a character witness. Yesterday the prosecutor called the Grammy winning singer, "A child's worst nightmare."
While some jurors watched without hesitation, some stole uneasy glances at the defendant, who himself at times appeared outrage and took notes. The preachers wife, spent the entire 26 minutes with her hand covering her mouth.
The grainy tape shows a man handing the female money. Throughout the session he gives her commands and she calls him "Daddy," while she dances to a soundtrack that includes the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys from a nearby radio. After various sex acts, which include masturbation, oral sex and penetration, the video culminates with the man, suspected to the R, urinating on the girl. His face is never clearly visible.
After the tape was shown, Kelly's defense made it's official argument which stood firmly on two, and some might say conflicting points.
The first being that the man on the tape doe not have a prominent mole in the middle of his back, which lawyers claim that Kelly has had since childhood.
The second argument is that the alleged victim at the center of the case, who is now a 23 year old single mother and refused to participate in the prosecutions case, was not underage and that in fact the woman in the video is a prostitute paid for her services.
But one would wonder, if it isn't Kelly on the tape and he had nothing to do with the making of the tape, then how could he know the "real" identity of the woman?
We're also learning more about the juror who was dismissed yesterday. After making claims that serving on the jury would cause her financial hardship, the rape victim was excused from the panel and replaced with a white man in his 20's whose uncle was convicted of child pornography related charges.
And speculation is also swirling around the fact that Robert Kelly's older brother will take the stand for the prosecution. After unsubstantiated allegations surface that Kelly had molested a female family member, Kelly's brother came forward as a character witness. Yesterday the prosecutor called the Grammy winning singer, "A child's worst nightmare."
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Already one juror has been dismissed.
Shortly before opening statements began, a juror was summoned by the judge after she complained that sitting on the panel would leave her unable to pay her bills.
The woman explained to the judge that she only has 30 hours of vacation time at her job and wouldn't be paid for serving on the jury after that time expires.
She says she'd be unable to pay attention to her jury duties because of concern over their financial implication.
My question is, didn't she know her financial situation BEFORE jury selection?
Shortly before opening statements began, a juror was summoned by the judge after she complained that sitting on the panel would leave her unable to pay her bills.
The woman explained to the judge that she only has 30 hours of vacation time at her job and wouldn't be paid for serving on the jury after that time expires.
She says she'd be unable to pay attention to her jury duties because of concern over their financial implication.
My question is, didn't she know her financial situation BEFORE jury selection?
Opening arguments begin this morning in the R. Kelly child pornography trial. And guess what's first up...Yup the now infamous 30 minute sex tape that has been at the center of this entire investigation.
Prosecutors are expected to show the tape in their opening argument. The theory is that since both Kelly, and the alleged victim deny that is them in the tape, most of the states case will be proving their identities, so they'd like to show the tape upfront to give the jury a frame of reference.
In a case purposely shrouded in secrecy, many are surprised that the Judge, notorious for holding closed door meetings, is allowing the very graphic tape to be shown fully unedited and in it's entirety.
The trial is expected to last at least three weeks and Kelly could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
We at FSL have NOT actually seen the tape (because we don't watch kiddie porn)but we thought we'd show you the next best thing: Dave Chappelle's "Piss On You."
Prosecutors are expected to show the tape in their opening argument. The theory is that since both Kelly, and the alleged victim deny that is them in the tape, most of the states case will be proving their identities, so they'd like to show the tape upfront to give the jury a frame of reference.
In a case purposely shrouded in secrecy, many are surprised that the Judge, notorious for holding closed door meetings, is allowing the very graphic tape to be shown fully unedited and in it's entirety.
The trial is expected to last at least three weeks and Kelly could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
We at FSL have NOT actually seen the tape (because we don't watch kiddie porn)but we thought we'd show you the next best thing: Dave Chappelle's "Piss On You."
Drip drip drip...
Friday, May 16, 2008
DRIP DRIP DRIP: R. KELLY'S JURY SELECTION IS OVER. BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 10:35 AM
Jury selection in the R. Kelly case wrapped up Thursday -- but not before the defense howled in protest over the process.
Eight men and four women will decide if R&B superstar Kelly is guilty of child pornography charges. Before the panel was finalized, Kelly's lawyers accused prosecutors of deliberately removing black jurors. And they objected when Judge Vincent Gaughan allowed a rape victim on the jury.
At one point Thursday, the prosecution moved to dismiss a black man -- his hair in cornrows like Kelly's -- because of his criminal record. Defense attorney Sam Adam Sr. stood up.
"They're using these [challenges] to get rid of African Americans," Adam thundered.
"You haven't said anything about all the white males you've dismissed," Gaughan said.
"They've used 50 percent of their challenges on African Americans," Adam protested.
Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Boliker responded that all six of the defense's peremptory challenges -- strikes that usually require no explanation -- had removed whites from the jury.
Later, Adam objected to the prosecution removing another black man. The prosecution said the man had concealed a criminal record when filling out his questionnaire, and Gaughan dismissed him for "dishonesty."
A person who, according to Gaughan, was self-identified as a rape victim on the jury questionnaire made it onto the panel in spite of objections from defense lawyer Ed Genson.
Genson asked that "given the nature of this prosecution" Gaughan remove the victim "for cause," since the defense had used all of its peremptory strikes.
Gaughan denied Genson's request, saying the victim had looked Kelly in the eye and promised him a fair trial.
Kelly, 41, is charged with videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. He has pleaded not guilty.
Eight men and four women will decide if R&B superstar Kelly is guilty of child pornography charges. Before the panel was finalized, Kelly's lawyers accused prosecutors of deliberately removing black jurors. And they objected when Judge Vincent Gaughan allowed a rape victim on the jury.
At one point Thursday, the prosecution moved to dismiss a black man -- his hair in cornrows like Kelly's -- because of his criminal record. Defense attorney Sam Adam Sr. stood up.
"They're using these [challenges] to get rid of African Americans," Adam thundered.
"You haven't said anything about all the white males you've dismissed," Gaughan said.
"They've used 50 percent of their challenges on African Americans," Adam protested.
Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Boliker responded that all six of the defense's peremptory challenges -- strikes that usually require no explanation -- had removed whites from the jury.
Later, Adam objected to the prosecution removing another black man. The prosecution said the man had concealed a criminal record when filling out his questionnaire, and Gaughan dismissed him for "dishonesty."
A person who, according to Gaughan, was self-identified as a rape victim on the jury questionnaire made it onto the panel in spite of objections from defense lawyer Ed Genson.
Genson asked that "given the nature of this prosecution" Gaughan remove the victim "for cause," since the defense had used all of its peremptory strikes.
Gaughan denied Genson's request, saying the victim had looked Kelly in the eye and promised him a fair trial.
Kelly, 41, is charged with videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. He has pleaded not guilty.
The jury of eight whites and four blacks includes:
* An African-American woman whose husband is a Baptist pastor
* An African-American man who identified himself as a Christian
* A white male executive with two kids who said he thinks Kelly is guilty and that "child pornography is about as low as it gets"
* A 20-something white woman studying criminal justice who wants to be a police officer
* An African-American man who is a culinary student
* A white man who has served on two civil juries that arrived at a verdict
* A black woman who is a teacher's assistant at a Catholic school
* A white male compliance officer at a downtown investment firm who had an "Impeach Bush" button on his book bag
* A white woman who works in a suburban high school
* A 68-year-old man who emigrated to the United States from Romania
* A white man who recently graduated from the University of Kansas and was once arrested for marijuana possession
* A white male with a goatee whose brother was once turned down for a job with the state's attorney's office
Kelly's attorney did however, fail to get either T-Pain or Lil' Wayne as alternates for a possible "Jury Remix" should the verdict come back unfavorable.
Friday, May 9, 2008
DRIP DRIP DRIP: R. KELLY'S TRIAL IS LIKELY TO BEGIN TODAY
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 9:15 AM
***UPDATE***
The judge has ruled AGAINST Kell's motion for another delay. Jury selection will begin on Monday morning. Drip Drip Drip...
With the R. Kelly kiddie-porn trial about to begin, a new bombshell has dropped – an aide for Kells may have paid off a woman for the return of a potentially incriminating tape. Only problem is: the woman in question is still going to testify against him anyway.
The Chicago Sun-Times says that the Atlanta woman was paid by an aide to give back a tape of herself and the alleged victim in a three-way with R. This witness is extremely important to the prosecution because the alleged victim is expected to testify that she isn't the underage girl in another videotape.
The trial starts later this morning.
In light of last weeks Sun-times report, Kelly's defense team has asked yet another delay of trial, claiming the negative publicity has once again tainted the already slim jury pool. However, given that today will mark the fourth trial date in the six years since his 2002 indictment on 21 counts of child pornography (7 counts were laters dismissed), many speculate that the already frustated judge might not honor that request. In which case, jury selection will begin this afternoon.
Stay tuned...But in the meantime, let's try and taint jury pool a little more with that infamous R. Kelly Remix 'Piss On You'. Enjoy.
The Chicago Sun-Times says that the Atlanta woman was paid by an aide to give back a tape of herself and the alleged victim in a three-way with R. This witness is extremely important to the prosecution because the alleged victim is expected to testify that she isn't the underage girl in another videotape.
The trial starts later this morning.
In light of last weeks Sun-times report, Kelly's defense team has asked yet another delay of trial, claiming the negative publicity has once again tainted the already slim jury pool. However, given that today will mark the fourth trial date in the six years since his 2002 indictment on 21 counts of child pornography (7 counts were laters dismissed), many speculate that the already frustated judge might not honor that request. In which case, jury selection will begin this afternoon.
Stay tuned...But in the meantime, let's try and taint jury pool a little more with that infamous R. Kelly Remix 'Piss On You'. Enjoy.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
R. KELLY ASKS FOR YET ANOTHER DELAY OF HIS CHILD PORN TRIAL
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 3:56 PM
R. Kelly (pictured above in what I hope will be his official trial uniform), looked grim, standing with his hands in front of him, as his lawyer asked a Chicago judge on Wednesday (May 7) for yet another delay in his already long-delayed child-pornography trial, for which jury selection is slated to start Friday.
"We ask to continue the case," Kelly's lawyer Ed Genson said, "because of the torrent of publicity over the weekend."
Genson was referring to the news, which the Chicago Sun-Times published on Saturday, that one of the so-called "secret witnesses" recently added to the witness list is a woman who claimed she had participated in a three-way sexual encounter with the singer and the allegedly underage girl who appears on the sex tape at the heart of the charges.
The new witness' testimony could weaken Kelly's defense: The singer has denied that he is the man on the tape, and the girl also denied being on the tape in her grand jury testimony.
Prosecutors asked to respond to the defense request on Friday, at which time Judge Vincent Gaughan is expected to rule. Prosecutors also gave Genson a tape — which he quickly explained to reporters present is "an old tape, nothing to do with these matters."
Kelly was charged with 21 counts of child pornography in 2002 (seven of which were later dropped); he pleaded not guilty.
If convicted, Kelly faces up to 15 years in prison.
"We ask to continue the case," Kelly's lawyer Ed Genson said, "because of the torrent of publicity over the weekend."
Genson was referring to the news, which the Chicago Sun-Times published on Saturday, that one of the so-called "secret witnesses" recently added to the witness list is a woman who claimed she had participated in a three-way sexual encounter with the singer and the allegedly underage girl who appears on the sex tape at the heart of the charges.
The new witness' testimony could weaken Kelly's defense: The singer has denied that he is the man on the tape, and the girl also denied being on the tape in her grand jury testimony.
Prosecutors asked to respond to the defense request on Friday, at which time Judge Vincent Gaughan is expected to rule. Prosecutors also gave Genson a tape — which he quickly explained to reporters present is "an old tape, nothing to do with these matters."
Kelly was charged with 21 counts of child pornography in 2002 (seven of which were later dropped); he pleaded not guilty.
If convicted, Kelly faces up to 15 years in prison.
SOURCE
Monday, May 5, 2008
WHAT'S BETTER THAN YOUNG TAIL? MORE YOUNG TAIL...WE'VE GOT 5 QUESTIONS FOR R. KELLY
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 9:29 AM
A woman is set to testify at R. Kelly’s upcoming child pornography trial that she had a three-way sexual encounter with Kelly and the allegedly underage girl shown in the video at the heart of the case.
The 41-year-old R&B superstar is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl estimated to be 13 or 14. He has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection is set to begin Friday.
As part of the case, prosecutors claim to have identified the girl in the videotape. This alleged victim is now in her 20s. Kelly’s lawyers plan to argue — and the alleged victim will reportedly testify — that she is not the girl in the tape.
But the prosecution’s new witness could undermine that defense, since she will identify the girl, sources with knowledge of the matter told the Chicago Sun-Times. In addition, the witness is expected to say the girl was underage at the time of their encounter.
“She was involved in a threesome with [the girl] and R. Kelly,” one source said.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers declined to comment, citing a gag order in the case.
The witness’ testimony was among the evidence discussed in secret hearings last month before Judge Vincent Gaughan. The judge, citing concerns about pretrial publicity, closed the hearings to the public and put multiple court filings under seal.
The Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press filed a legal challenge to unseal the proceedings and documents, as did WBEZ-FM (91.5). Those challenges are still pending.
The 41-year-old R&B superstar is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl estimated to be 13 or 14. He has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection is set to begin Friday.
As part of the case, prosecutors claim to have identified the girl in the videotape. This alleged victim is now in her 20s. Kelly’s lawyers plan to argue — and the alleged victim will reportedly testify — that she is not the girl in the tape.
But the prosecution’s new witness could undermine that defense, since she will identify the girl, sources with knowledge of the matter told the Chicago Sun-Times. In addition, the witness is expected to say the girl was underage at the time of their encounter.
“She was involved in a threesome with [the girl] and R. Kelly,” one source said.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers declined to comment, citing a gag order in the case.
The witness’ testimony was among the evidence discussed in secret hearings last month before Judge Vincent Gaughan. The judge, citing concerns about pretrial publicity, closed the hearings to the public and put multiple court filings under seal.
The Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press filed a legal challenge to unseal the proceedings and documents, as did WBEZ-FM (91.5). Those challenges are still pending.
OHHHH....I have SO MANY questions. SIGH, where to begin?
1. So how old is the second chick?
2. Did she know how young this jump-off gone wrong was when they decided to play 'Menage A Teen" with the R.?
3. Did R. Kelly EVER consider dropping a official remix to his infamous sex tape? How about a fifteen part score, including a midget?
4. Do you think she called R. Kelly everyday after school and chatted until her mama got home and picked up the other end and said, "Lil girl, you better get off this phone?"
5. And finally (for now) who do I have to talk to, to get R. Kelly to rock this fit to the first day of opening arguments?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
DAMN DAMN DAMN: NOW YOU GOT TO DRAG AALIYAH INTO YOUR MESS?
0 comments Posted by THE fly GIRL at 10:00 AM
The Chicago Sun-Times reports:
Prosecutors in the upcoming R. Kelly child pornography trial want to introduce evidence of other crimes allegedly committed by the R&B singer, court records show.
Kelly, 41, is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl estimated to be 13 or 14. Kelly, of Olympia Fields, has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection starts May 9th.
Prosecutors filed a motion April 1st, to allow evidence of other crimes, according to the case's docket sheet.
The motion appears to have been the subject of a two-hour, closed-door hearing Friday before Judge Vincent Gaughan. Kelly married singer Aaliyah, who is now deceased, when she was 15. Her parents later had the nuptials annulled.
Friday, April 11, 2008
This is R. Kelly's new promo pic. Now what exactly he's promotiong I couldn't EVEN begin to want to tell you. But I do know one thing, I better NEVER ever ever catch this fool on the streets looking like this. STOP THIS FOOLISHNESS. Now.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
On Tuesday, R. Kelly made his 113th Chicago court appearance, albeit a brief one, in connection with his pending child molestation case, according to local news radio station WBBM. The latest meeting of the legal minds was to schedule another hearing pertaining to defense motions that are currently under seal. Kelly was charged in 2002 with videotaping himself engaging in sex acts with an allegedly 13-year-old girl and the case seems finally on track to go to trial May 9.If this drags out any longer, KELS will be charged with sleeping with the girls DAUGHTER. Let's just get this all over with.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Chicago Tribune reports, two new state witnesses are expected to bolster the prosecution's case by corroborating claims about the identity of the girl who was allegedly videotaped having sex with the Pied Piper of R&B.
With the trial set for May 9th, Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan has agreed to the addition of the two new witnesses.
At a court hearing yesterday (March 12) R.Kelly's lawyer, Edward Genson expressed some frustration at new witnesses being added so close to the trial date, however he did not object to the new witnesses.
AssistantState's Atty. Shauna Boliker told the court that the new potential witnesses "just recently came into our knowledge."Genson told the court that he has already interviewed one of the new witnesses, who is from the Chicago area, however he said he hasn't received any information about the second witness. Gaughan said both sides can question the two witnesses before the start of trial.
Prosecutors in the case have been facing denials from the young woman, allegedly videotaped having sex with Kelly, who says she does not appear in the video. In January Gaughan turned down prosecutors request to allow expert testimony about the alleged victims denial.
The 40-year-old R&B singer was indicted on child pornography charges in June 2002 for allegations he had videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl. Prosecutors have said the girl may have been as young as 13 when the tape was made.
With the trial set for May 9th, Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan has agreed to the addition of the two new witnesses.
At a court hearing yesterday (March 12) R.Kelly's lawyer, Edward Genson expressed some frustration at new witnesses being added so close to the trial date, however he did not object to the new witnesses.
AssistantState's Atty. Shauna Boliker told the court that the new potential witnesses "just recently came into our knowledge."Genson told the court that he has already interviewed one of the new witnesses, who is from the Chicago area, however he said he hasn't received any information about the second witness. Gaughan said both sides can question the two witnesses before the start of trial.
Prosecutors in the case have been facing denials from the young woman, allegedly videotaped having sex with Kelly, who says she does not appear in the video. In January Gaughan turned down prosecutors request to allow expert testimony about the alleged victims denial.
The 40-year-old R&B singer was indicted on child pornography charges in June 2002 for allegations he had videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl. Prosecutors have said the girl may have been as young as 13 when the tape was made.
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