R Kelly's former lawyer claims singer was 'guilty as hell' in 2008 trial
Ed Genson, who has been diagnosed with cancer, says he wants to speak out while he's still alive
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Your support makes all the difference.R Kelly's former lawyer has claimed the singer was "guilty as hell" of possessing child pornography.
Chicago defence attorney Ed Genson represented Kelly after he was indicted on 13 counts of child pornography in 2002. He was acquitted on all of those charges in 2008.
Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times, Genson said: “He was guilty as hell. I don’t think he’s done anything inappropriate for years.
"I’ll tell you a secret – I had him go to a doctor to get shots, libido-killing shots. That’s why he didn’t get arrested for anything else.”
Genson told the publication he was suffering from bile cancer and was going to “say whatever I want, but we’ve got to do it fast.”
“It would be nice to get it down so somebody knows besides me,” he added.
Lawyer Michael Avenatti, who is representing two of Kelly's accusers, praised Gensen for coming forward.
"Because the more people that believe that R Kelly is guilty, that’s better for the prosecution,” Avenatti told USA Today.
“If they move this case anywhere outside Chicago, a guilty verdict is all but assured. Chicago is the only place where he has even a remote chance of beating this. R Kelly and his lawyers want to keep this in Chicago.”
Kelly has faced renewed scrutiny following the release of the Lifetime docuseries, Surviving R Kelly, which is said to have sparked the investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse.
He was arrested a week ago and released on bail, only to be arrested once again on Wednesday (6 March) after failing to pay child support fees.
On the same day, Kelly gave a shocking interview with CBS News, in which he shouted at broadcaster Gayle King and claimed his innocence on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse against four victims. Three of those were allegedly aged 13-17 when the attacks were said to have taken place.
“I didn’t do this stuff, this is not me, I’m fighting for my f***ing life,” Kelly said in the interview, arguing that he has been targeted.
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