Audio By Carbonatix
R. Kelly‘s lawyer says Brooklyn federal prosecutors should drop some of their sex crimes charges against the disgraced singer — because a state law prohibiting people with sexually-transmitted diseases from having intercourse is “unconstitutional.”
In a motion filed in Brooklyn federal court Monday, Kelly’s lawyer argues for dismissal of several counts against the singer that are based on a New York law that says it is a criminal offense for someone who knows they have an “infectious venereal disease” to have hook up with another person.
Steve Greenberg, Kelly’s lawyer, argues that the New York law, which has as been on the books since 1943, is an invasion of privacy that “makes it illegal to have private, consensual sexual intercourse.”
“This statute is facially unconstitutional. It prohibits sexual intercourse by anybody who has an STD. The definition is vast, ranging from HIV to yeast infections … It includes HPV and ‘scabbies,'” Greenberg writes.
“The only requirement is that the individual knows that they have the venereal disease. In other words, it prohibits two consenting adults from having sexual intercourse if either, or both, know that they have an infectious venereal disease,” he continues.
“It does not require that the disease be passed on, nor does it allow the consenting adults to have sexual intercourse if the venereal disease is disclosed beforehand. It does not permit the use of a condom, or account for modern day suppression drugs.”
Faith Rodgers, one of Kelly’s alleged victims, claims in a Manhattan lawsuit that the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer gave her genital herpes without informing her that he was carrying the disease.
Rodgers’ accusations have formed the basis for some of the charges Kelly faces in Brooklyn, which includes racketeering, sexual exploitation of minors and transporting females across state lines for the purposes of having sex.
Kelly, 53, has denied having genital herpes. But prosecutors allege in court records that his medical records show that he had an “infectious venereal disease” during the time that he was having sex with Rodgers.
Kelly is scheduled to go to trial in July for his Brooklyn case. He also faces criminal charges in Chicago and Minneapolis.
The US Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn declined to comment on Greenberg’s motion.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
GNPC Explorco partners Tamale Technical University to train Ghana’s next generation of petroleum professionals
8 minutes -
NDC to rename party headquarters after Rawlings as Ghana marks ex-president’s 79th birthday
10 minutes -
EU funds major forest restoration drive to reclaim 14,000 hectares of degraded land in Ghana
22 minutes -
Mahama: Stories of enslaved women must no longer be ‘footnotes’ in history
22 minutes -
Macron calls on UN, AU, UNESCO to back global reparatory justice push in Accra
25 minutes -
2 dead as torrential rains submerge Samreboi
26 minutes -
Reparatory justice: Truth must come first in addressing legacy of slavery – Macron
26 minutes -
African universities urged to strengthen quality assurance systems as AI transforms education
27 minutes -
Macron proposes international scientific initiative on reparatory justice and slavery legacy
28 minutes -
Ghana’s cocoa price decision and the future of a resilient cocoa economy
30 minutes -
Ghana’s cocoa price decision and the future of resilient cocoa economy
30 minutes -
Parents approve health levy, PTA dues to improve welfare at Wa School for the Blind
31 minutes -
Macron pledges continued academic focus on colonial legacy and slave trade
35 minutes -
Tension in Tema as occupants oppose demolition of Kaiser Flats over safety risks
37 minutes -
Police arrest suspected armed robber, accomplice over Bolgatanga home invasion
38 minutes