Prosecutors Allege R. Kelly Married Aaliyah To Prevent Her From Testifying About Pregnancy

All eyes are on R. Kelly’s ongoing sex trafficking trial in Brooklyn as a new revelation was made about the secret marriage he had with a then 15-year-old Aaliyah.

Federal prosecutors are out to paint Kelly as a “predator” who used his fame and power to sexually exploit “girls, boys, and young women” who he made call him “Daddy,” News.com.au reports. During his trial hearing on Wednesday, prosecutors delved into the romance he once had with the late singer Aaliyah when she was still a minor and he was a grown man.

Kelly and members of his entourage are accused of bribing a Chicago official to obtain a fake ID for the late singer so they could get married when he was 27 and Aaliyah was just 15.

According to Brooklyn Assistant US lawyer Maria Melendez, R. Kelly orchestrated the marriage after Aaliyah allegedly told him that she was pregnant and he wanted to ensure she wouldn’t testify against him.

“This case is not about a celebrity who likes to party a lot,” Cruz Melendez told the jury. “This case is about a predator who used his fame, popularity, and network to target, groom, and exploit girls, boys, and young women for his own sexual gratification.”

Cruz Melendez is going after Kelly for his alleged history of recording sex acts with minors, physically abusing some victims, locking one in a room for several days, and knowingly spreading herpes to at least two victims.

“He used his money, clout and public persona to hide his crimes in plain sight,” Cruz Melendez said.

Kelly’s defense attorney, Nicole Blank Becker, is attempting to paint the victims as liars looking for a come-up.

“He didn’t recruit them. They were fans. They came to Mr. Kelly,” she said. “They knew exactly what they were getting into. It was no secret Mr. Kelly had multiple girlfriends. He was quite transparent.”

Kelly’s trial remains ongoing while the disgraced singer is being held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.