R. Kelly accuser Jerhonda Tempo cries as she testifies about alleged abuse
The primary of a sequence of accusers scheduled to testify within the federal racketeering case towards R. Kelly turned emotional in a Brooklyn courtroom Thursday as she described being slapped and choked by the disgraced R&B singer. Jerhonda Tempo had begun her testimony Wednesday, alleging sexual and bodily abuse throughout a relationship with Kelly that began when she was a 16-year-old fan in 2009.
Tempo, who’s pregnant and days away from her due date, was requested on Thursday to learn a couple of traces from a diary that she ready on the recommendation of civil legal professionals she retained after leaving Kelly, whose authorized identify is Robert Sylvester Kelly.
She cried as she learn the entry dated January 23, 2010: “I went to Rob’s home and Rob referred to as me a foolish b—. Rob slapped me thrice. He mentioned if I lied to him once more, it is not going to be an open hand subsequent time. He spit in my face and in my mouth and choked me throughout an argument. I had intercourse with him, I had oral intercourse with him. Then I turned fed up, and I went dwelling and confessed.”
Elizabeth Geddes, an assistant U.S. legal professional for the Jap District of New York, confirmed cellphone data as proof of communication between Kelly and Tempo on the day of the diary entry.
Prosecutors in New York accuse Kelly of working a prison intercourse trafficking community composed of his managers, bodyguards, drivers, assistants and others who recruited youngsters and girls at live performance venues the place he was performing and different areas. As soon as Kelly had the accusers alone, he “dominated and managed them bodily, sexually and psychologically,” Assistant U.S. Lawyer for the Jap District of New York Maria Cruz Melendez mentioned Wednesday. However protection attorneys have blasted the alleged racketeering enterprise as an overreach by prosecutors, saying in a single court docket submitting the ladies sought out Kelly’s consideration and years later have “groupie regret.” Kelly’s legal professional, Nicole Clean Becker, mentioned Wednesday the relationships have been consensual and the ladies loved the “notoriety of with the ability to inform their pals that they have been with a famous person.”
In her testimony on Thursday, Tempo instructed a prosecutor that Kelly requested her to decorate like a Woman Scout and put on her hair in pigtails throughout their relationship.
Kelly’s protection crew sought to forged doubt on the character of Tempo’s relationship with Kelly throughout their cross-examination. Protection legal professional Deveraux Cannick requested Tempo, “Now, you have been actually stalking him, weren’t you?” She denied stalking Kelly. Cannick then requested Tempo about why she met with prosecutors relating to her testimony, participated in interviews with the media and wrote a e-book, for which Tempo mentioned she was paid greater than $25,000 however lower than $100,000.
Cannick additionally requested Tempo about an incident at Kelly’s dwelling in 2009 throughout which she alleges Kelly instructed her to take off her bathing swimsuit and it made her uncomfortable. Tempo had testified she initially instructed Kelly she was 19 however confessed that she was 16 to him after the incident.
“So that you simply took off your garments,” Carrick mentioned.
“Sure,” Tempo replied.
Carrick requested Tempo to learn a paragraph from a settlement settlement with Kelly stating that she confirmed Kelly identification indicating she was 19 and by no means instructed him she was youthful. Tempo testified her attorneys did not let her see the settlement earlier than she signed it.
The 54-year-old Kelly, who additionally has pending prison circumstances in Minnesota and Illinois, faces 10 years to life in jail if he’s convicted within the New York case. His racketeering indictment contains underlying counts of sexual exploitation of a kid, bribery, kidnapping, compelled labor and violations of the Mann Act, which criminalizes the transportation of girls and women for any “immoral function.” He has pleaded not responsible and has steadfastly maintained his innocence, together with in an explosive 2019 interview with CBS Information’ Gayle King.
On Wednesday, Tempo had described a number of incidents the place Kelly turned bodily violent together with her, together with an incident at his dwelling close to Chicago in 2010 when he slapped her and choked her till she handed out.
Tempo mentioned Kelly would usually make recordings of their sexual encounters, and that they’d watch the recordings and Kelly would inform her how she might enhance. Tempo mentioned she was instructed to observe “Rob’s guidelines” when she was with the singer – limiting how she might gown, who she might communicate with and when she might use the lavatory. The testimony helps prosecutors’ allegations that Kelly “demanded absolute obedience” from the ladies and enforced guidelines together with calling him “Daddy,” sporting saggy clothes when not with him, and holding their heads down and never taking a look at different males. Kelly enacted punishments on people who did not observe the foundations, Melendez mentioned.
Tempo and 5 different girls within the indictment are referred to in court docket filings as “Jane Does,” however Tempo has spoken publicly about her accusations. Prosecutors have additionally requested a decide to permit the jury to listen to about greater than a dozen different accusers – together with two who have been underage boys on the time – who weren’t a part of the indictment, however whose tales they hope will bolster their case that Kelly had a sample of exploitation. The authorized technique has been utilized by prosecutors in different #MeToo period circumstances towards Invoice Cosby and Harvey Weinstein. A decide has not but dominated on whether or not to permit the extra testimony.
Recognized for his 1996 tune “I Consider I Can Fly” and different chart-topping hits, Kelly has for years confronted allegations of sexual abuse. He was acquitted in 2008 of kid pornography fees when a key witness didn’t testify. A sequence of girls later got here ahead with accusations of abuse within the 2019 Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly,” prompting public outcry over the allegations within the #MeToo period. The singer was charged with federal intercourse crimes in New York and Chicago the identical yr.
Costanza Maio and The Related Press contributed reporting.
