R Kelly skips court hearing due to infected toenail
R. Kelly failed to show up to a court hearing on Wednesday 30 October due to an infected toenail, his lawyer has claimed.
The I Believe I Can Fly singer was scheduled to make an appearance in front of federal judge Harry Leinenweber in Chicago, but was worried that his foot would get trampled on his escorted journey to the courthouse. R. Kelly - whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly - is currently being held without bond at a nearby jail.
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Defence lawyer Steve Greenberg reportedly explained to Judge Leinenweber that his client is in a walking boot and had been particularly concerned about someone stepping on his injured toe because the nail had been removed during treatment. Ultimately, the public officer determined that he would rule at a later date.
Kelly is currently facing 13 federal charges. The most recent trial was to address Kelly’s lawyer’s request to release the R&B artist on bail.
The grand jury indictments allege Kelly recruited and transported underage girls as part of a sex trafficking scheme, abused a minor aged between 13 and 16 and paid acquaintances hundreds of thousands of dollars to conceal or dispose of potentially incriminating videotapes.
The 52-year-old vehemently denies all claims. Back in February, he appeared on CBS This Morning to publicly challenge the accusations levelled against him.
“I didn’t do this stuff,” he told presenter Gayle King. “Use your common sense. Forget the blogs, forget how you feel about me. Hate me if you want to, love me if you want. But just use your common sense.”
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“I’m fighting for my f****** life,” he continued, as he broke down in tears.
Kelly’s next hearing has been set for 13 February.
