• Jovante Cunningham, one of Kelly's accusers, pauses after speaking outside the federal court. AP
    Jovante Cunningham, one of Kelly's accusers, pauses after speaking outside the federal court. AP
  • A supporter of R Kelly cries outside the federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday after the R&B star was sentenced to 30 years in a federal sex case. AP
    A supporter of R Kelly cries outside the federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday after the R&B star was sentenced to 30 years in a federal sex case. AP
  • Lawyer Gloria Allred speaks alongside Ms Cunningham outside the federal court. AP
    Lawyer Gloria Allred speaks alongside Ms Cunningham outside the federal court. AP
  • Kelly's lawyer Jennifer Bonjean speaks after her client was sentenced to 30 years in jail. AP
    Kelly's lawyer Jennifer Bonjean speaks after her client was sentenced to 30 years in jail. AP
  • Ms Allred walks out of federal court alongside another Kelly victim, Lizzette Martinez. AP
    Ms Allred walks out of federal court alongside another Kelly victim, Lizzette Martinez. AP
  • Crowds gather for Kelly's sentencing at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse in New York. Reuters
    Crowds gather for Kelly's sentencing at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse in New York. Reuters
  • Ms Cunningham embraces a supporter. EPA
    Ms Cunningham embraces a supporter. EPA
  • Ms Cunningham speaks after Kelly's sentencing. EPA
    Ms Cunningham speaks after Kelly's sentencing. EPA
  • Ms Allred walks with Ms Martinez after the sentencing. EPA
    Ms Allred walks with Ms Martinez after the sentencing. EPA
  • Ms Martinez and Ms Cunningham outside the courthouse on Wednesday. EPA
    Ms Martinez and Ms Cunningham outside the courthouse on Wednesday. EPA

R Kelly in court again to face more sex crimes charges


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Disgraced R&B singer R Kelly, who is serving a 30-year sentence for sex offences, is back in court this week facing further charges.

Jury selection began on Monday in the latest case, which is being tried in the 55-year-old's hometown of Chicago, Illinois.

Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was convicted in New York in September of recruiting teenagers and women for sex.

The I Believe I Can Fly artist was found guilty of eight charges of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering.

In the Chicago case, Kelly and two ex-associates are accused of rigging the singer's 2008 child pornography trial in which the jury delivered a verdict of not guilty.

A minor victim, who has not been identified, declined to give evidence in the 2008 trial because of alleged threats and bribes, but is expected to take the witness box this time.

Kelly, a three-time Grammy Award-winner, is charged with obstruction of justice, producing child pornography and illegal sexual activity with a minor.

Also facing charges are Kelly's former manager, Derrel McDavid, and an ex-employee, Milton “June” Brown. The trial is expected to last about four weeks.

As jury selection began, Kelly's lawyer Jennifer Bonjean filed a motion asking that anyone who watched a documentary called Surviving R Kelly be disqualified from service.

“Any potential juror who has watched any portion of this docuseries must be disqualified for cause,” the motion said.

Judge Harry Leinenweber denied the motion and proceeded to jury selection.

Kelly's conviction in New York was widely seen as a milestone for the #MeToo movement, as it was the first major sex abuse trial in which the majority of accusers were black women.

It was also the first time Kelly faced criminal consequences for the abuse he was rumoured to have inflicted on women and children for decades.

His accusers described events that often mirrored one another. Many of the alleged victims said they had met the singer at concerts or mall performances and were then handed slips of paper with Kelly's contact details by members of his entourage.

Core to the state's case was Kelly's relationship with the late singer Aaliyah, which began when she was about 13 years old.

Kelly wrote and produced her first album — Age Ain't Nothin' But A Number — before illegally marrying her when she was only 15 because he feared he had impregnated her.

He also faces prosecution in two other state jurisdictions.

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
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  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

THE BIO

Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old

Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai

Favourite Book: The Alchemist

Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna

Favourite cuisine: Italian food

Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman

 

 

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Updated: August 15, 2022, 7:31 PM