Federal prosecutors have shared more details about R. Kelly‘s marriage to Aaliyah.
The troubled singer appeared in court on August 18 for the beginning of his racketeering trial, where new insights were shed on his illegal marriage to the icon.
More details below….
According to The New York Times, Attorney Maria Cruz Melendez addressed Kelly’s alleged union with Aaliyah in 1994, when he was 27 and she was 15.
In her claims, she alleged that Kelly had learned that Aaliyah had become pregnant and that he was the father of the unborn child. As a result, he then married her to avoid having her testifying against him.
“This was, of course, a huge problem for him. If she was pregnant that meant there would be questions: At the very top of that list of questions — who is the father of that baby?”
Kelly then allegedly bribed a Chicago official to provide a fake ID for Aaliyah. However, the marriage went on to be annulled a year later.
Melendez claims that Kelly used his wealth and power to “exploit young girls, boys and women for his own sexual gratification.”
He is facing several charges, including: forced labor, kidnapping, sex trafficking, and multiple violations of the Mann Act.
The trial centers on allegations from six different women, who say they endured physical and emotional abuse by Kelly. If convicted, he will face 10 years to life behind bars.
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