R Kelly’s lawyer argues for acquittal or retrial in New York sex abuse case
completemusicupdate.comR Kelly’s new lawyer filed legal papers with the courts in New York yesterday seeking to have the musician acquitted or retried in relation to his conviction last year on charges of racketeering and sexual exploitation.
Among the reasons given for acquittal or retrial are the failings of Kelly’s former legal team.At trial last September, Kelly was found guilty of building and running a criminal enterprise that allowed him to prolifically groom and abuse young people, often teenagers.
He was convicted of all the charges against him and faces ten years to life in prison.The musician has now hired the services of Jennifer Bonjean, who was behind Bill Cosby’s successful appeal of his own sexual assault conviction.
She filed papers yesterday setting out arguments for why her client should have a retrial – or simply be acquitted.According to Rolling Stone, in arguing for a retrial, Bonjean claims that Kelly was denied his rights under the Sixth Amendment of the US Constitution in the original trial, in particular in relation to the impartiality of the jury.This was caused by the weakness of his previous legal team, Bonjean says, who did not effectively assess potential jurors and challenge unqualified jurors.
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