Controversial Rnb singer, R Kelly has caught COVID-19 in a federal jail in Brooklyn, New York.
The new development extends the deadline the singer has to file appeal paperwork in his federal racketeering case to February 17.
Ann Donnelly, the US district judge presiding over the case, said from February 17, Kelly is to formally begin fighting his September 2021 conviction on the charges that he had sex with underage girls and bribed a state employee to create a fake ID card so he could marry Aaliyah, a 15-year-old singer.
In a filing ahead of the judge’s decision, Jennifer Bonjean, Kelly’s lawyer, wrote that the singer’s COVID diagnosis “interfered with his ability to speak with counsel by telephone” to review his post-trial paperwork.
“It is vitally important that Mr. Kelly meaningfully participates in his post-trial defense,” Bonjean wrote in her letter to the court on Tuesday.
“The (jail) has not indicated when visits will resume which is less than ideal, but undersigned counsel is confident that she can accomplish necessary discussions with Mr. Kelly via upcoming scheduled Zoom visits.”
In a Twitter post on Tuesday, Bonjean had s that her client was faring “well” following his infection.
“Understandably, many people are concerned about Mr. Kelly’s health and well-being (as am I). Mr. Kelly is doing well, but there is no question that MDC’s COVID policies are putting all inmates in harm’s way,” she wrote.
