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Closing arguments begin in R. Kelly’s federal trial in Chicago; female juror excused

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Closing arguments begin in R. Kelly’s federal trial in Chicago; female juror excused

CHICAGO (WLS) — Attorneys are making their ultimate arguments earlier than a jury decides the destiny of R. Kelly and his two former staff.

R. Kelly is charged with trial-fixing, little one pornography and engaging minors for intercourse. The 55-year-old has been the topic of various sexual abuse allegations for practically 20 years.

At one level Monday, a feminine juror advised the decide she felt like she was having a panic assault and mentioned she could not proceed to serve on the jury. She can be changed with a male alternate juror.

SEE MORE: R. Kelly trial: Protection for singer, co-defendants relaxation; prosecution rebuttal to start subsequent week

Federal prosecutors have the burden to show guilt past an affordable doubt within the 13-count indictment. 9 of these counts are in opposition to Kelly alone for creating little one pornography and engaging a minor into felony sexual exercise.

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Kelly was already sentenced to 30 years in jail, after he was convicted in a separate case in New York. Now he faces extra years in jail in his federal trial in Chicago.

This criticism additionally names Kelly’s former supervisor, Derrel McDavid, and worker, Milton Brown, for allegedly paying a whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars} to get well little one intercourse tapes.

A key witness for the federal government is a girl who calls herself Jane and recognized herself in movies with Kelly when she was 14 years outdated.

Assistant US Lawyer Elizabeth Pozolo argued Monday: “He took benefit of his place, his fame, and her youth. He took benefit for his personal pleasure.”

Pozolo went on to argue that the three – Kelly, his former enterprise supervisor and former assistant – conspired to hide proof and thwart felony prosecution in Cook dinner County when the video of Jane turned public.

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“Kelly and his workforce did their greatest to cowl up the truth that this R&B star R Kelly is a sexual predator,” Pozolo mentioned.

Early within the trial, federal prosecutors known as an professional who testified about little one predators and grooming habits, which might lead a toddler to suppose they’re particular and their exercise is regular, and it typically takes years for the people to see the exercise as abuse.

Almost $28K taken from R. Kelly’s inmate commissary account for restitution in New York conviction

Prosecutor Pozolo concluded her argument, saying: “Robert Kelly manipulated women over a few years and he dedicated horrible crimes in opposition to kids. And he did not do it alone.”

Every defendant’s lawyer is making a closing argument, too.

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The lawyer for Derrel McDavid – Kelly’s former enterprise supervisor – argued those that testified about McDavid’s involvement in any conspiracy lied earlier than and in the course of the trial.

“Do not give into guilt by affiliation as a result of that is all the federal government has,” Beau Brindley, McDavid’s lawyer, advised jurors.

Moreover, Brindley argued McDavid believed Kelly’s goddaughter, who was 14 years outdated on the time, was not the lady within the intercourse tape.

“The knowledge he had then is completely different than what he has now,” Brindley mentioned.

Mary Choose, the lawyer for Kelly’s former assistant Milton Brown, argued that Brown was not a part of any conspiracy, saying: “It proved he was doing his job and that every one it proves.”

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ABC7 Authorized Analyst Gil Soffer weighed in on the attainable repercussions of the trial.

“If convicted right here, R. Kelly is taking a look at a long time in jail, and we’ve to recollect he already has been sentenced to a long time in jail within the New York conviction, so successfully we’re taking a look at life imprisonment for him,” Soffer mentioned. “The decide might determine to let him serve them concurrently to the sentence in New York, if he will get extra time right here in Chicago then he did in NY, he’ll serve these additional years on high of it. He is nonetheless interesting the New York case. If he wins that enchantment, then the one sentence he’d be taking a look at is the one right here in Chicago.”

Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

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2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say
ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

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The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

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3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

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“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

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Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

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Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

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Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

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However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.

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