New evidence has been revealed that alleges Rapper R. Kelly molested a teenage boy, but his legal team is fighting to not have this evidence shown in court claiming they fear the jury may be homophobic.
Police have uncovered evidence that Kelly,54 groomed and assaulted a 17-year-old boy in 2006.
The young boy, an aspiring musician said he met Kelly at a McDonald’s and was then invited to his (Kelly’s) Chicago studio.
After offering to help the young boy with his music career, Kelly propositioned him and had sexual contact with him while he was still underage.
Prosecutors add that the boy says he introduced Kelly to another male friend, who was also underage (16 or 17) with whom the singer had a sexual relationship several years later.
They also allege the star made several female sexual partners (which included at least one minor) to have sex with the young man as he (Kelly) filmed them.
Prosecutors say the two boys’ accounts and those of others will show Kelly’s alleged crimes “were not isolated events and were part of a larger pattern”.
(bbc )
Kelly’s legal team argues that as the trial is set to begin early to mid August, there is not enough time left for a case to be made to defend the new charges.
They further argue tat the questionnaire given to jurors did not ask the jurors how they would react to someone being in a same-sex relationship, and it could be unfair to Kelly if the jury takes offense at the homosexual rather than pedophiliac nature of the new alleged offenses.
At this moment the Judge has not made a ruling on whether the evidence will be considered.
Trial date is set for August 9.
