In a move that is sure to rile the sensibilities of a legion of American women, the judge in the sexual abuse lawsuit against R. Kelly is granting the beleaguered singer another chance to defend himself.
As has been reported, R. Kelly lost the default judgment in the suit filed by one of the “Bump N’Grind” singer’s first sexual assault accusers when he failed to appear in the Cook County court in Chicago in April 2019.
Now the judge in the case is throwing out that judgment for Heather Williams, who claims Kelly sexually abused her when she was 16.
What led to the change of heart?
According to TMZ, the two attorneys defending Robert Sylvester Kelly, 52, successfully argued the following:
- First, R. Kelly is famously illiterate, so he was unable to understand the court documents that he was served;
- Secondly, Kelly was so overwhelmed and distraught about being in jail regarding the other serious charges against him that he was not in any emotional state to respond to the lawsuit, even if he was able to read.
Whether observers believe that the decision is copacetic, the “Step in the Name of Love” singer is headed back to court — a place Kelly will become very familiar with in the coming months.
Remember, Kelly still faces trial on 10 counts of criminal sexual abuse for which he could get up to 70 years in prison if he is convicted. Kelly also must continue to stay ahead of his child support. He has to go back to court for that in order to petition the judge to greatly reduce the monthly payments.
