R Kelly’s sisters converse out in defence of musician in new interview

R Kelly’s sisters have spoken out in defence of their brother following his current jail sentence.

In June, Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in jail, following his conviction final yr on fees of intercourse trafficking and racketeering.

The R&B singer (actual identify Robert Sylvester Kelly) stood trial final summer time for racketeering, bribery and violating the Mann Act, which criminalises the transportation of any girl or lady throughout state strains for “immoral” functions, comparable to unlawful sexual exercise. He was discovered responsible on 9 accounts.

Now, the sisters of the musician, Cassandra, Theresa and Lisa Kelly, have spoken out in his defence on Good Morning Britain and alleged that race performed an element in his conviction.

“African People have all the time been handled unfairly,” Cassandra advised the programme. “So I feel that, that has loads to do with it in addition to different elements.”

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AooKkkl6HIU[/embed]

Lisa Kelly went on within the interview to assert her brother had by no means been with an underage lady. “I can say he might have been with youthful girls however so far as underage ladies, no,” she mentioned. “And I stress ladies—underage ladies, who has seen that?”

She continued: “I’m not gonna acknowledge one thing that I don’t have the proof of. If there's a sufferer, I’ll acknowledge. However from what I’ve seen in court docket and from what I’ve studied and from what I’ve learn the one sufferer I see that’s been stolen from, lied on is Robert. Nobody is speaking in regards to the cash that was being extorted from Robert. Nobody is speaking about what was stolen from him…he’s not a monster, he’s not a pedophile, he was simply taken benefit of.”

In court docket final month, Kelly confronted seven of his accusers who gave sufferer affect statements.

Gloria Allred, who represented the three girls who testified towards Kelly, advised reporters that “nobody can undo the hurt that has been carried out to those victims”.

One of many victims mentioned of Kelly: “With each addition of a brand new sufferer you grew in wickedness, cockiness, diminishing any type of humanity or self-awareness, which quickly turned the breeding floor in your God-like complicated.

“You had been doing, saying and inspiring despicable issues that nobody ought to be doing. We reclaim our names from beneath the shadows of your troubled trauma. We're not the preyed-upon people we as soon as had been.”

One other added: “What you probably did has left a everlasting stain of my life I’ll by no means be capable of wash away. Now it’s your flip, to have your freedom taken from you.”

For assist, recommendation or extra data concerning sexual harassment, assault and rape within the UK, go to the Rape Crisis charity website. Within the US, go to RAINN.