R Kelly loses appeal to overturn 20-year sentence for child sex abuse
R Kelly's challenge against a 20-year sentence for child sex convictions has been quashed by an appeals court.
The singer was correctly sentenced to 20 years in prison, a Chicago court ruled on Friday.
He was convicted in 2022 on three charges of producing child sexual abuse images and three charges of enticement of minors for sex.
In his appeal, Kelly, 57, argued Illinois' old statute of limitations - which required prosecution of child sex crime charges within 10 years - should have applied, rather than the current law permitting charges while an accuser is still alive.
The appeals court rejected this, labelling it an attempt by Kelly to elude the charges entirely after "employing a complex scheme to keep victims quiet".
He also argued that charges involving one accuser should have been tried separately from the charges tied to three other accusers due to video evidence that became a focal point of the Chicago trial.
Prosecutors have said the video showed Kelly abusing a girl. The accuser, only identified as Jane, testified for the first time that she was 14 when the video was taken.
The three-judge panel from the appeals court noted jurors acquitted Kelly on seven of the 13 counts against him "even after viewing those abhorrent tapes".
In a written statement, Kelly's attorney Jennifer Bonjean said they plan to seek a US Supreme Court review of the decision and "pursue all of his appellate remedies until we free R Kelly".
"We are disappointed in the ruling, but our fight is far from over," she said.
Source: news.sky.com
Trending Entertainment
Eazi highlights leveraging technology in the Music Industry
11:34We pledge to remain committed to our responsibilities – CUTT to GES, Min. of Education
06:55Ghana’s 1-year-old Liam Ace Liam confirmed as Guiness World Records’ Youngest Male Artist
07:02Lil Win goes after TGMA board for perpetual snubs but is consoled they give cashless ‘metals’
15:46Lil Win reveals once producing movie starring Daddy Lumba, why it's unreleased after about 8 years
15:14Stevie Wonder visits Ghana, receives citizenship on 74th birthday
18:31Sikadwa displayed at Manhyia
08:12KODA to be bid farewell on July 5
15:32Questlove not happy with Drake vs Kendrick Lamar: ‘Nobody won the war’
15:15Pattie Mallette: Justin Bieber’s mom is thrilled to become a first-time grandmother
14:53