Entertainment
R Kelly appeals sex crime convictions to US Supreme Court
In a bold move, disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly has taken his fight for freedom to the highest court in the United States.
On July 31, 2024, Kelly’s legal team filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to overturn his convictions on multiple sex crime charges.
The controversial artist, known for hits like, I Believe I Can Fly, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2022 after being found guilty of sexual exploitation of minors, forced labour, and racketeering. Kelly’s lawyers argue that his trial was marred by several legal errors and that these mistakes violated his constitutional rights.
Key points of the appeal:
- Unfair jury selection: Kelly’s defence claims that the jury selection process was flawed, potentially leading to a biased panel that was predisposed against him.
- Questionable evidence: The appeal challenges the admission of certain pieces of evidence that the defence believes should have been excluded from the trial. They argue that this evidence unduly influenced the jury’s decision.
- Witness credibility: The legal team questions the reliability of the testimonies from key witnesses, suggesting that their accounts may not have been trustworthy.
R. Kelly’s lawyers are pushing for either a complete reversal of the convictions or a new trial, insisting that the original trial was far from fair. The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to hear the case could be a turning point in Kelly’s long-standing legal battles.
The U.S. Supreme Court only hears a small percentage of cases each year, so it’s uncertain whether they will take up Kelly’s appeal. However, if they do, it could potentially lead to a new trial or even a release from his current sentence. For now, the world waits to see if the once-celebrated artist will get another chance to clear his name.
As the drama unfolds, many are left wondering whether justice will prevail or if this is just another chapter in the saga of a fallen star.
Entertainment
Wofai Fada expecting first child — weeks after civil wedding
Wofai Fada, the Nigerian actress and comedian, and Taiwo Cole, her husband, are expecting their first child together.
The excited mother-to-be took to her Instagram page on Wednesday to share photos from her maternity shoot on Instagram, proudly displaying her baby bump.
In the accompanying caption, the actress wrote, “Caution, baby bump ahead. And baby makes it three”.
Colleagues and friends have taken to the post’s comment section to congratulate the actress.
The announcement comes a few weeks after the lovebirds held their legal wedding ceremony. Wofai and Taiwo’s union is surrounded by controversy.
In May, videos from their traditional wedding in Calabar, Cross River, began circulating online.
Shortly after, Taiwo’s family released a public disclaimer, distancing themselves from the union.
“This serves to notify all acquaintances, family, and friends that the Cole family of Victoria Island Lagos are not aware of any marriage ceremony of our Son Taiwo Olakitan Cole, neither did we grant permission nor support in this regard,” the statement read.
Despite the family’s stance, Wofai and Taiwo continued to share photos from their wedding ceremonies on social media.
Wofai, who gained popularity for her comedic skits on Instagram, has solidified her name in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
The actress has appeared in several films, including ‘Oloture’, ‘The Wedding Party 2’, ‘Blood Sisters’, and ‘New Money’.
Entertainment
I was raped by my nanny at 10 | started visiting brothels at 12, says Charly Boy
Charly Boy, the ace Nigerian singer, has opened up about his childhood sexual abuse.
In a recent episode of the Duke Rants podcast, the ‘Odudubariba’ hitmaker disclosed that he was raped at the age of 10 by his nanny.
The 70-year-old activist said due to his innocence and lack of understanding, he didn’t recognise it as abuse and instead felt pleasure.
Charly Boy said the rape incident marked the beginning of his early introduction to sex. He added that by age 12, he was already sexually active, contracted gonorrhea, and frequented brothels.
“I was about 17 years old when I had my first child, even at 12 I was sexually active. If we want to take it back a little bit, when I was 10, I didn’t know what it was all about; I was raped by my nanny and the day my mother found out, she was angry.I did not feel raped at that age,” he said.
“I actually enjoyed it because I didn’t know what was going on, but it felt good. My mother drove her away and that was where it ended. At 12 I had already contracted gonorrhoea and was going to the brothels around. I was really introduced to sex by one of my crazy cousins. When I was 15 or 16 and two families came to the house with their daughters.
“My father called me. There’s a way that my father calls me and then I know there’s trouble, so when he called me in that manner I went. He then asked me if I knew the girls and I said yeah even though I knew where the conversation was going. So I told him that all the boys on my team knew them all. He said one of the girls was pregnant and I denied it.”
Entertainment
K-drama actor Song Jae-Rim found dead at home
Song Jae-Rim, the South Korean actor known for his role in K-drama ‘The Moon Embracing The Sun’, is dead.
According to Korean media outlet Soompi, Jae Rim was discovered dead in his apartment in Seoul’s Seongdong district on November 12. He was 39.
A two-page letter was reportedly discovered at the scene. Although the cause of his death has not been revealed, there are rumours on social media that the actor may have committed suicide.
The authorities also said there are “no signs of foul play” at this time and that the investigation into the actor’s death is still ongoing.
Song Jae Rim’s burial is scheduled to take place at a funeral home in Yeouido on November 14.
Born on February 18, 1985, Jae Rim began his career as a runway model and appeared on the covers of numerous magazines.
He started acting in 2009 but got his big break for his role in ‘The Moon Embracing The Sun’, the 2012 drama series.
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