Kelly is a "predator" who demanded absolute loyalty from the many women and underage girls he recruited for sex in a two-decade racketeering scheme, a federal prosecutor said on Wednesday as the R&B star's sex abuse trial began.
Kelly’s sex abuse trial began Wednesday with a federal prosecutor calling the R&B superstar a “predator” who demanded absolute loyalty from many women and underage girls he recruited for sex in a two decade racketeering scheme.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Melendez told a jury of seven men and five women in a Brooklyn federal court that Kelly used (quote) "lies, manipulation, threats and physical abuse" to dominate his victims, and often filmed their sexual encounters.
Melendez said Kelly would require his victims to get his permission before doing virtually anything, including going to the bathroom, and blackmail them by threatening to release self-incriminating letters he forced them to write if they fled.
Kelly, a three-time Grammy winner whose songs include "I Believe I Can Fly" and "Bump N' Grind," has pleaded not guilty to a nine-count indictment that also includes accusations of bribery and extortion.
He has strongly denied wrongdoing.
Attorney Gloria Allred, at the courthouse, told reporters she represents three of the alleged victims. “All I can say is that I’m very confident that the court will afford a fair trial both to Mr. Kelly and also to the persons who are the alleged victims.” [FLASH] DEFENSE ATTORNEY THOMAS FARINELLA: "Excited for Mr. Kelly to have his day in court." Kelly's legal team has characterized the accusers as "disgruntled groupies" who had pined to be with him, only to change their stories later.
The case is the culmination of years of suspicions and accusations against Kelly, many discussed in the 2019 Lifetime documentary "Surviving R.
Kelly”.
Kelly has been jailed for more than two years, and could face decades in prison if convicted.
Even if acquitted, he still faces sex-related charges in Illinois and Minnesota, where he has also pleaded not guilty.
Director-producer Paul Levatino and his directors of photography Jeremy Ward and Zack Tzourtzouklis sat down with The Hollywood Reporter and revealed how a short film about the popular Dallas soul/R&B group 'Bastards of Soul' became an accidental tribute to its charismatic lead singer, Chadwick Murray.
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 17:04Published
Missy Elliott Announces , First-Ever Headlining Tour.
The legendary rapper's first headlining tour was announced on April 8, 'People' reports.
"Out of This World — The Missy Elliott Experience" will visit 24 cities in North America.
Supporting acts include
Ciara, Busta Rhymes and Timbaland. .
Supporting acts include
Ciara, Busta Rhymes and Timbaland. .
Supporting acts include
Ciara, Busta Rhymes and Timbaland. .
This is an incredible time in
my life as I am experiencing
so many milestone ‘firsts.’ , Missy Elliott, via statement.
Being the FIRST female Hip Hop
artist to be inducted into the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and now
going out on my FIRST headline tour, Missy Elliott, via statement.
Fans have been asking me to tour
forever, but I wanted to wait until I felt
the time was right because I knew if I
was ever going to do it, I had to do it
big, and I had to do it with family!, Missy Elliott, via statement.
So get ready to be taken OUT OF THIS
WORLD with me, Busta Rhymes, Ciara,
and Timbaland! We can’t wait to share
this experience with the fans!, Missy Elliott, via statement.
The tour is set to kick off at
Rogers Arena in Vancouver on July 4.
It will end August 22 at
Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.
A Verizon presale will take place April 9 at
10 a.m. through April 11 at 10 p.m. local time.
Other tickets will be available
beginning April 12 at 10 a.m. local time.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Amazon Is Getting Rid of , Just Walk Out Technology , at Its Fresh Grocery Stores.
The company's Just Walk Out
technology allows customers to
avoid standing in checkout lines.
It works by sending receipts to customers after they've left the store with their items.
While customers have said they enjoy the process, .
they wish they could view their receipts and savings while they are shopping, according
to Amazon spokesperson Carly Golden.
As a result, Amazon is revamping its
grocery chain to better serve customers.
The Just Walk Out technology will
be replaced by smart carts that provide spending data in real time, NPR reports. .
Most Fresh grocery stores are located in
Washington State, California, Illinois and Virginia. .
The retailer also operates Amazon Go
stores in addition to owning Whole Foods.
The retailer also operates Amazon Go
stores in addition to owning Whole Foods.
Amazon Go stores and smaller Fresh
stores in the U.K. will continue to use
Just Walk Out technology, NPR reports.
Last year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said that the company is still trying to figure out how to have
a greater impact on physical grocery stores.
This revamp, and "selectively" launching new Fresh locations, is part of that process, Golden said
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
These 5 US Cities Have the , Fastest-Rising Home Prices.
'Newsweek' reports that five cities in the
United States saw home prices increase by more
than 8% between January 2023 and January 2024.
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price
Index showed that all 20 cities analyzed had year-
over-year increases during the same period of time.
According to the report, , these are the five cities where , home prices grew the fastest:.
Chicago, IL, Home prices increased by 8%
year-over-year in the Windy City.
According to the latest Redfin data, the median sale price of a house in Chicago was $335,000 as of February 2024, a 6.3% increase compared to the same time last year.
Charlotte, NC, Charlotte saw home prices increase
by 8.1% year-over-year for 2024,
with the median home price at $399,995.
Detroit, MI, Motor City saw home prices jump 8.3%. The median sale price of a home was $83,000, a significant 15.3% increase compared to 2023.
'Newsweek' reports that while Detroit has some of the cheapest
home prices in the nation, its housing market is seeing a
resurgence due to a boom in electric vehicle production.
'Newsweek' reports that while Detroit has some of the cheapest
home prices in the nation, its housing market is seeing a
resurgence due to a boom in electric vehicle production.
Los Angeles, CA, The city's 8.6% hike ranked as the second-highest
price increase in the nation with the median home
price at $975,000, a 5.9% increase year-over-year.
San Diego, CA, San Diego registered a whopping 11.2%
price increase for 2023 with the median sale price
sitting at $940,000, a 10% year-over-year increase.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
A stabbing spree in northern Illinois leaves four dead and seven injured, with a 22-year-old suspect in custody. Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd expresses condolences to the victims' families, while the community grapples with shock and disbelief. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the heinous crime, as residents offer support and assistance in the aftermath of the tragic incident.
#Illinoisattack #Illinois #RockfordPolice #CarlaRedd #USnews #Americanews #CrimeNews #Worldnews #Oneindia #Oneindianews
~PR.152~ED.103~GR.122~HT.96~
These Are the 2024 Sweet 16 , March Madness Teams.
These Are the 2024 Sweet 16 , March Madness Teams.
64 NCAA Division I teams have been cut
down to the Sweet 16, CBS News reports. .
The teams that will advance in the
March Madness tournament are:.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Iowa State Cyclones
NC State Wolfpack
Gonzaga Bulldogs.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Iowa State Cyclones
NC State Wolfpack
Gonzaga Bulldogs.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Iowa State Cyclones
NC State Wolfpack
Gonzaga Bulldogs.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Iowa State Cyclones
NC State Wolfpack
Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Arizona Wildcats
Illinois Fighting Illini
Tennessee Volunteers
Purdue Boilermakers.
Arizona Wildcats
Illinois Fighting Illini
Tennessee Volunteers
Purdue Boilermakers.
Arizona Wildcats
Illinois Fighting Illini
Tennessee Volunteers
Purdue Boilermakers.
Arizona Wildcats
Illinois Fighting Illini
Tennessee Volunteers
Purdue Boilermakers.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Creighton Bluejays
Duke Blue Devils
Clemson Tigers.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Creighton Bluejays
Duke Blue Devils
Clemson Tigers.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Creighton Bluejays
Duke Blue Devils
Clemson Tigers.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Creighton Bluejays
Duke Blue Devils
Clemson Tigers.
Alabama Crimson Tide
San Diego State Aztecs
Houston Cougars
University of Connecticut Huskies.
Alabama Crimson Tide
San Diego State Aztecs
Houston Cougars
University of Connecticut Huskies.
Alabama Crimson Tide
San Diego State Aztecs
Houston Cougars
University of Connecticut Huskies.
Alabama Crimson Tide
San Diego State Aztecs
Houston Cougars
University of Connecticut Huskies.
Four teams remain in
each regional bracket.
Four teams remain in
each regional bracket.
In the East:, No. 1 seed Connecticut vs. No. 5 San Diego State
No. 2 seed Iowa State vs. No. 3 seed Illinois.
In the East:, No. 1 seed Connecticut vs. No. 5 San Diego State
No. 2 seed Iowa State vs. No. 3 seed Illinois.
In the East:, No. 1 seed Connecticut vs. No. 5 San Diego State
No. 2 seed Iowa State vs. No. 3 seed Illinois.
In the East:, No. 1 seed Connecticut vs. No. 5 San Diego State
No. 2 seed Iowa State vs. No. 3 seed Illinois.
In the West:, No. 1 seed North Carolina vs. No. 4 seed Alabama
No. 2 seed Arizona vs. No. 6 seed Clemson.
In the West:, No. 1 seed North Carolina vs. No. 4 seed Alabama
No. 2 seed Arizona vs. No. 6 seed Clemson.
In the West:, No. 1 seed North Carolina vs. No. 4 seed Alabama
No. 2 seed Arizona vs. No. 6 seed Clemson.
In the West:, No. 1 seed North Carolina vs. No. 4 seed Alabama
No. 2 seed Arizona vs. No. 6 seed Clemson.
In the South:, No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Duke
No. 2. seed Marquette vs. No. 11 seed NC State.
In the South:, No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Duke
No. 2. seed Marquette vs. No. 11 seed NC State.
In the South:, No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Duke
No. 2. seed Marquette vs. No. 11 seed NC State.
In the South:, No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Duke
No. 2. seed Marquette vs. No. 11 seed NC State.
In the Midwest:, No. 1 seed Purdue vs. No. 5 seed Gonzaga
No. 2 seed Tennessee vs. No. 3 seed Creighton.
In the Midwest:, No. 1 seed Purdue vs. No. 5 seed Gonzaga
No. 2 seed Tennessee vs. No. 3 seed Creighton.
In the Midwest:, No. 1 seed Purdue vs. No. 5 seed Gonzaga
No. 2 seed Tennessee vs. No. 3 seed Creighton.
In the Midwest:, No. 1 seed Purdue vs. No. 5 seed Gonzaga
No. 2 seed Tennessee vs. No. 3 seed Creighton.
Sweet 16 games will take
place from March 28-31
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
After a 2-year delay, the trial has begun for singer R. Kelly, who faces federal charges for racketeering, kidnapping, forced labor and sexual exploitation of a child.
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