Judge will allow cameras in the courtroom during R. Kelly trial
Photos and videos of the accusers are not allowed without their consent.
A judge has allowed cameras in the courtroom during R. Kelly pretrial and trial hearings.
During a brief hearing on Friday (Mar. 15), Cook County Associate Judge Lawrence Flood stated that cameras would be allowed in the courtroom starting with the next hearing on March 22. Flood also said that photos and videos of the accusers are not allowed without their consent. So far two of the accusers have expressed that they don’t want to be filmed.
The disgraced R&B singer was absent from Friday’s hearing, but his lawyer was there on his behalf.
Back in February, Kelly was charged with ten counts of aggravated sexual abuse, he pleaded not guilty on all charges.
In a new twist of events, The Blast has reportedly obtained exclusive audio of a phone call between Joycelyn Savage and her vocal coach where Savage revealed that she was told by Kelly to lie to her parents about her sexual relationship with the singer.
Savage went on to explain that Kelly became angry after she confessed to him that she told her family about their relationship.
“I told him what was going on,” Savage nervously said during the call.
She also admitted that Kelly wanted her to text him “I lied about me and you having sex,” in an attempt to cover his tracks. “He can’t trust me,” she said later on in the call. “I have to gain his trust back because he really likes me a lot.”
During the disturbing call, Savage also revealed that the singer may have given her an STD.
The Blast also reports, “Joycelyn confided in her closest friends that Kelly allegedly sexually assaulted her during their first meeting, and her family firmly believes that incident started a pattern of physical and psychological abuse that resulted in total dedication to the star.”
The audio recording has reportedly been given to federal investigators who are currently investigating the singer for violating the Mann Act by transporting minors when he flew Azriel Clary across state lines for the purpose of sex. If charged and convicted, Kelly faces 10 years in prison.