Key Points:
- R. Kelly was hospitalised after allegedly overdosing on medicine inside prison on 13 June.
- His lawyer claims the overdose was not an accident and says his life is in danger.
- The legal team is calling for home confinement and asking Donald Trump to pardon the singer.
R&B singer R. Kelly was rushed to the hospital after what his lawyer calls a “near-death overdose” inside his prison cell. The 58-year-old, who is serving a 30-year sentence for sex crimes, became very sick at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, on 13 June.
According to court papers from his legal team, Kelly had been given too much medicine. His lawyer now says the event could have killed him — and it may not have been an accident.
Medication, Solitary Cell, and a Scary Collapse
Court documents claim R. Kelly was sent to solitary confinement on 10 June. He was allowed to take his medication with him. These include pills for anxiety, sleep, and other health problems.
While alone in his cell, prison workers reportedly gave Kelly more pills and told him to take them. His lawyer says this was caught on the prison’s security cameras. On 12 June, Kelly took the medication as instructed.
But the next day, he began to feel very weak. He felt dizzy and saw black spots. When he tried to stand up, he fell to the floor. He then crawled to the door of his cell before losing consciousness.
Prison staff tried to help him, but the on-site medical team could not treat his condition. Kelly was rushed to Duke University Hospital in an ambulance.
“He Could Have Died” – Lawyer
Kelly’s lawyer, Beau Brindley, said his client was given a life-threatening dose. Doctors at the hospital told Kelly that he had taken too much medicine, which almost cost him his life.
Brindley now believes someone in the prison system may have tried to harm him on purpose. He says this happened only days after Kelly filed a court motion claiming there was a plot to kill him behind bars.
The lawyer also says prison staff have removed Kelly from a blood-thinner treatment. They have not allowed him to get surgery for blood clots in his legs and lungs.
In the documents, Brindley states that the overdose incident is further proof that Kelly’s life is in danger inside prison. He is now asking for his client to be moved to home confinement to avoid any more threats to his health.
Lawyer Asks Trump to Step In
In a bold move, Kelly’s legal team has reached out to former U.S. President Donald Trump. They believe Trump can grant Kelly a pardon and save his life.
In a statement to Page Six, Brindley said: “It truly seems that only President Trump has the power to save a life… We need help now more than ever.”
However, prison officials have not shared any more details about Kelly’s condition. They say it is against the rules to talk about an inmate’s health or medical needs.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have slammed Kelly’s claims. They argue he often pretends to be a victim and uses manipulation to get sympathy.
Background on R. Kelly’s Conviction
R. Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was sentenced in June 2022. A jury had earlier found him guilty of sexually abusing women, boys, and girls for over 20 years. He was convicted of nine charges, including racketeering and breaking a law that stops people from taking others across states for sex.
Kelly is currently serving his sentence in a North Carolina prison. His legal battles and health issues continue to make headlines.
