Entertainment
R. Kelly trial: Singer has dark side hidden from public – prosecutor
R. Kelly has a “dark” and “hidden” side that the public rarely saw during his career, prosecutors said at the opening of his second federal trial.
The R&B singer was found guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering in a New York court last year. He was later sentenced to 30 years in jail.
But on Wednesday, a separate trial on child pornography and obstruction charges began in Chicago.
His lawyer urged the jury not to accept the portrayal of Kelly as “a monster”.
Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, faces 13 charges, including creating and receiving child pornography, obstruction of justice and enticing minors into sexual activity.
In 2008, he was also accused of trying to rig a similar trial by bribing and intimidating witnesses.
Prosecutors used their opening statements to tell the jury what to expect over the next four or so weeks, detailing the survivors who will testify and some of what the jury is expected to hear.
That includes hearing from one woman – who prosecutors are calling Jane – who will testify that she appeared in an alleged sex tape with Kelly when she was 13 or 14 and the singer was 31.
According to prosecutors, Kelly made four separate videos with Jane – segments of which will be shown to jurors.
That video was the centre of the 2008 trial, however at the time Kelly and Jane denied it was them in the tape. Neither testified and Kelly was acquitted on all charges.
This trial, happening in his hometown of Chicago, is being seen by many as a repeat of the 2008 trial, when he was facing 14 charges of child pornography.
Two of Kelly’s former employees are also facing charges in this trial. Derrel McDavid, his former business manager, is accused of helping Kelly fix the 2008 trial, and Milton Brown is charged with receiving child pornography.
Both men have pleaded not guilty. Mr McDavid plans to testify in court, his attorney said on Wednesday.
Prosecutors allege Kelly and Mr McDavid sent hush money and expensive gifts to Jane and her parents over several years to keep them quiet.
Kelly’s previous trial was highly publicised, and in her opening address, his defence attorney reminded the jury that he deserved a fair trial even if the government seeks to portray him as a “monster”.
“There is no R. Kelly exception,” Jennifer Bonjean said.
“It is true that Mr Kelly is imperfect. It is true that, on his journey from poverty to stardom, that he stumbled along the way. We won’t deny that,” she told the court.
She also alleged that several of the witnesses against Kelly were “criminals” who have “extorted him” and have immunity deals. Additionally, she suggested that the government is taking advantage of a series of documentaries and of social media outrage to prosecute Mr Kelly in a “mob-justice climate”.
This trial in Chicago comes just a few months after Kelly was sentenced in a New York court to 30 years in prison.
Jurors at the six-week New York trial heard how he trafficked women between different US states, assisted by managers, security guards and other members of his entourage.
The court also heard how Kelly had illegally obtained paperwork to marry singer Aaliyah when she was 15 in 1994, seven years before she died in a plane crash.
The certificate, leaked at the time, listed Aaliyah’s age as 18. The marriage was annulled months later.
Kelly is a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter known for hits like Bump N’ Grind, Ignition (Remix) and the hugely popular 1996 anthem I Believe I Can Fly.
Sexual abuse allegations and accounts of his predatory behaviour towards young girls and women go back decades. He is still facing state charges of aggravated sexual abuse in Illinois and prostitution and solicitation charges in Minnesota.
Source: BBC
Multiple award-winning dancehall artiste Emmanuel Andrew Samini popularly known as Samini is set to return to his Dansoman base with the much-anticipated Samini Experience on December 24.
The musician, who has nurtured top talents from the community in the past, says this year’s edition will be held in collaboration with the Dansoman Homecoming Carnival, to make the event bigger.
Speaking to the media at Kegali Hotel during a press launch on Friday, October 16, Samini said activities including a clean-up exercise, health walk, Children’s Day and games will take place from December 18 ahead of the main event.
According to him, the choice of Dansoman is to give back to the community where it all started.
He added that the event was also aimed at nurturing future talents by giving them a platform to showcase their abilities.
He disclosed that some music legends from Dansoman and other big names in the music industry will be on the bill to thrill patrons.
Samini also revealed that the Dansoman Exhibition streets will be blocked to make way for the unforgettable night of music.
He expressed appreciation to the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly for their collaboration to ensure the success of the programme.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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Ghanaian musician Darlington Agyekum, popularly known as Dr Cryme, says he believes leadership is about making a lasting impact rather than holding office.
In an interview after graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Studies at the Methodist University’s 2026 graduating class, Dr Cryme reflected on his student leadership journey and highlighted some of the initiatives he spearheaded while serving the university community.
“I always say this position is not a possession. People will come and go, but how you made a mark and who you helped is what we’re here for and how we’ll be remembered. Do your best, let God handle the rest,” he stated.
The rapper, who served as SRC President for the 2025/26 academic year, said his administration championed inclusiveness across the university’s three campuses under the motto, “For us, by us.”
“My motto, ‘For us, by us,’ brought inclusiveness and familiarity with all three campuses together in common goals and activities like education, health, sportsmanship and debates, which all projected the school to higher grounds and above,” he said.
According to him, the vision brought students together while strengthening unity and raising the profile of the university. He also served as a Council Member, Head of Entertainment and a face and brand ambassador for Methodist University Ghana.
Dr Cryme recounted that he was SRC President when the university celebrated its 25th anniversary and said his administration also revamped a legacy canteen project while improving seating facilities for students in classrooms and recreational areas.
He further disclosed that his administration introduced VOMUG (Voice of Methodist University Ghana), a communication platform designed to improve the dissemination of information through emails, bulk SMS, flyers and audio-visual content.
“I enhanced sitting materials for students both in the classrooms and outside for leisure and socialising. I also introduced VOMUG, which has helped in the dissemination of information through email, bulk SMS, flyers and audiovisuals, just to mention a few,” he added.
Although he and his team received citations from the university’s Tema administration in recognition of their service, Dr Cryme was quick to credit the wider university community for the achievements.
“Although we were presented with citations, myself and my team, by the administration in Tema, all these milestones wouldn’t have been attained without the support, involvement and indulgence of the beautiful people and stakeholders of Methodist University Ghana,” he said.
Beyond his academic achievement, Dr Cryme also announced that he has released a new single titled “Heat.”
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