R. Kelly Won't Testify During Trial, Lawyer Says

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R. Kelly's lawyer is doubtful that the singer will testify.

R. Kelly's trial has been underway over the past few weeks with numerous witness testimonies corroborating claims that he's a serial sexual abuser. While he has maintained his innocence, it doesn't seem like he will be providing any testimony in the current case. According to Fox News, Kelly has dodged the possibility of being cross-examined after declining to take the stand. "You don't want to testify, correct?" U.S. District Judge Ann Connelly asked the singer. He replied, "Yes ma'am."

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Without taking the stand, Kelly's legal team will likely rest their case by Wednesday evening. Closing arguments are expected to proceed shortly after.

Though there have been numerous witnesses brought forth by the prosecutors, while the defense has largely relied on close friends and associates of Kelly. Many of them have said that they never witnessed any heinous sexual acts committed by R. Kelly. 

There have been a few odd moments during the trial. Yesterday, it was reported that one of the witnesses asked the judge if they were able to play their demo reel in court during the trial. The judge, obviously, declined. 

London On Da Track's mother, Cheryl Mack, previously worked for Kelly and testified that there were several instances that made her uncomfortable in regards to R. Kelly's dealings with women.

We'll keep you updated on more information regarding Kelly's trial. 


About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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