R. Kelly
Kelly's team bribed an official for a fake ID so he and the then-15-year-old rising star could get married, another witness testified in the federal trial.
Jerhonda Pace wept while reading a journal entry about how Kelly cursed at her and slapped her three times, telling her, “It’s not going to be an open fist next time.”
Pace, known as Jane Doe No. 4 in the case, was the first witness to take the stand in the R&B singer's racketeering and sex trafficking trial.
Federal prosecutors will try the singer for sex trafficking in New York City this week.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
After decades of accusations, the R&B singer is facing his second trial related to his alleged sexual abuse crimes against minors.
The 54-year-old R&B singer has been locked up since he was indicted in 2019.
"I often think of all the men who have DM’d me thanking us for creating #MuteRKelly," says co-founder Oronike Odeleye. "But when asked to say that publicly on their social media accounts, they were silent."
Asante McGee discusses Lifetime's docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly," and the support Black survivors deserve, but rarely receive.
A Kelly defense attorney said he had “no involvement whatsoever” in any attempt to silence witnesses.
Lawyers for the accused serial sexual abuser have argued he is at high risk for contracting the coronavirus.