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![Chris Bassey [PM News]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'100'%20height%3D'100'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Chris Bassey [PM News]")
On July 31, 2024, Kelly's legal team filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to overturn his convictions on multiple sex crime charges.
The controversial artist, known for hits like, I Believe I Can Fly, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2022 after being found guilty of sexual exploitation of minors, forced labour, and racketeering. Kelly's lawyers argue that his trial was marred by several legal errors and that these mistakes violated his constitutional rights.
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R. Kelly, left, stands in court before Judge Lawrence Flood at Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago on June 6, 2019.E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Business Insider USA
Key points of the appeal:
- Unfair jury selection: Kelly's defence claims that the jury selection process was flawed, potentially leading to a biased panel that was predisposed against him.
- Questionable evidence: The appeal challenges the admission of certain pieces of evidence that the defence believes should have been excluded from the trial. They argue that this evidence unduly influenced the jury's decision.
- Witness credibility: The legal team questions the reliability of the testimonies from key witnesses, suggesting that their accounts may not have been trustworthy.
R. Kelly's lawyers are pushing for either a complete reversal of the convictions or a new trial, insisting that the original trial was far from fair. The Supreme Court's decision on whether to hear the case could be a turning point in Kelly's long-standing legal battles.
What's Next?
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The U.S. Supreme Court only hears a small percentage of cases each year, so it's uncertain whether they will take up Kelly's appeal. However, if they do, it could potentially lead to a new trial or even a release from his current sentence. For now, the world waits to see if the once-celebrated artist will get another chance to clear his name.
As the drama unfolds, many are left wondering whether justice will prevail or if this is just another chapter in the saga of a fallen star.
This content was created with the help of an AI model and verified by the writer.
