The trial of the Grammy-winning US singer R Kelly begins at a US federal court in New York on Wednesday.
The R&B star is accused of racketeering, sexual abuse and bribery; charges which he has denied.
Some of the allegations made against the singer – full name Robert Sylvester Kelly – date back more than two decades, reports BBC.
If he is convicted on all counts he could be sentenced to several decades in prison.
Kelly is best known for hits including Ignition (Remix), I Believe I Can Fly, Bump n’ Grind and If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time.
On her way in to court, BBC producer Monica Miller reported: “It’s a sticky overcast Wednesday in Brooklyn. R Kelly supporters screamed ‘Free R Kelly’ as they walked by.
“The parents of Jocelyn Savage arrived. She lived with R Kelly and claims to be a victim.”
