R Kelly trial latest: Singer gave girl, 17, herpes 'on purpose'

Kelly, 54, is on trial in New York, for nine charges including sexual abuse, racketeering and bribery. On the fourth day of proceedings, a woman - now aged 23 - said she was abused by the singer after going to his hotel room for an "audition" in 2015 in Florida.

R Kelly, pictured at the Leighton Criminal Court in Chicago in September 2019, is on trial in New York. Pic: AP
Image: R Kelly, pictured at the Leighton Criminal Court in Chicago in September 2019, is on trial in New York. Pic: AP
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The latest witness in the R Kelly sex abuse trial has claimed the singer gave her herpes on purpose, after he assaulted her while she was underage.

The singer - real name Robert Kelly - is currently on trial in New York on charges of racketeering, sex abuse and bribery, but has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

An ex-employee told proceedings last week that working for Kelly was like being in the "twilight zone".

R Kelly. Pic: AP
Image: R Kelly denies all nine charges against him in the current criminal case. Pic: AP

The latest witness, known as "Jane Doe #5", was 17 when she met the "I believe I can fly" performer, who is now 54.

The pair first came into contact in 2015, when the witness was invited to Kelly's hotel in Orlando Florida following a gig during which the then-48-year-old paid "a lot of attention to her".

Doe said she told the singer she was 18 when they met - the age of consent in Florida.

The witness said she hoped to advance her career by meeting the accused.

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However, once she met the singer, he said he needed to be pleased sexually before she could audition.

"I told him I did not come to please him, I came for an audition," Doe testified.

"I just wanted to sing," she added. "I genuinely wanted his input."

R Kelly
R Kelly

A timeline of allegations

Asked by prosecutors several times how old she was at the time, Doe - who is now 23 - replied "I was 17 years old".

After the initial alleged abuse, which involved oral sex, Kelly is accused of having sex with the girl on more than one occasion.

At one point, Doe started experiencing pain during sex, which "got worse to the point where I couldn't walk".

She was later diagnosed with herpes.

"This man purposely gave me something he knew he had," Doe said, "he could have controlled the situation."

Kelly is said to have also filmed the encounters he had with the girl.

Doe said that, when she revealed her real age to Kelly, he slapped her across the face but kept her in his life.

In notes that Doe wrote to herself to follow Kelly's rules, she had written "tell Daddy everything".

This moniker was apparently required of other alleged victims of the accused's crimes.

Kelly has pleaded not guilty to the nine charges against him, which included alleged abuse of six women and girls - including the late singer Aaliyah.

R&B singer and actress Aaliyah pictured in 2001. Pic: AP
Image: R&B singer and actress Aaliyah pictured in 2001. Pic: AP

Kelly is accused of marrying the singer when she was just 15.

Proceedings are currently on their fourth day, and the singer faces life in prison if convicted.

He also faces charges of sex-related crimes in the states of Illinois and Minnesota.