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Judge dismisses sexual assault case against Marilyn Manson,
but ‘Antichrist Superstar’ not yet off the hook
FILE PHOTO: Musician Marilyn Manson performs during a concert at Campo Pequeno bullring
in Lisbon, Portugal, June 27, 2018 © Reuters / Rafael Marchante
A judge has dismissed a woman’s lawsuit accusing Marilyn Manson of raping her and threatening to kill her. However, the shock rocker is facing three other suits accusing him of sexual assault and battery.
The lawsuit was brought against Manson this May by an unnamed woman, who accused the singer-songwriter of raping and threatening to kill her in 2011, shortly after they began dating. It was dismissed on Tuesday, with a judge ruling that the statute of limitations on the woman’s accusations had expired, US celebrity and entertainment outlet TMZ reported.
The woman claimed she hadn’t accused Manson (real name Brian Warner) earlier owing to having repressed memories of the alleged abuse. However, the judge dismissed the suit when she couldn’t explain what had caused this repression, and why she hadn’t remembered the incident during the previous 10 years. She now has 20 days to refile her case.
She had to explain why she had memory suppression? Is she a psychologist? What madness is that?
Manson’s music and videos have always portrayed a dark and provocative sexuality, but a number of recent cases have had his fans wondering whether it’s a case of art imitating life.
After testifying before Congress in support of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act in 2018, and in front of the California Senate in support of extending the statute of limitations a year later, actress Evan Rachel Wood named Manson as her abuser (2nd story on link) earlier this year. She claimed she had been “groomed” by the rock star as a teenager, and was “horrifically abused” by him during the time they dated.
Three other women – model Ashley Morgan Smithline, former assistant Ashley Walters, and ‘Game of Thrones’ actress Esmé Bianco – have all since sued Manson for sexual abuse.
Manson has denied any wrongdoing, and insisted his relationships with these women – who all accuse the singer of threatening and inflicting sadistic punishments on them – were “consensual.”
While those cases are still to be heard, the allegations themselves have done a number on Manson’s career and reputation. The 52-year-old rocker was dropped by his record label when Wood went public with her accusations in February, has been denounced by his fellow celebrities and former partners, and even had California lawmakers threaten to involve the FBI.
New York judge rules Prince Andrew’s accuser can serve him
with legal papers via his US lawyer
Will Andrew fire his US lawyer before he gets served?
17 Sep, 2021 16:09
FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Andrew leaves St Mary the Virgin church in Hillington, near royal Sandringham estate, in Norfolk, Britain January 19, 2020. © REUTERS/Chris Radburn
New York judge Lewis Kaplan ruled on Friday that Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, can be served with legal papers in the ongoing civil case launched by Virginia Giuffre, who claims the royal assaulted her at three locations.
The decision by the American judicial figure comes amid a dispute between Giuffre’s lawyers and the Prince’s representatives over whether he has been officially notified of the civil claim and legal proceedings against him.
“Service on the defendant’s US counsel is reasonably calculated to bring the papers served to the defendant’s attention, regardless of whether his US counsel is ‘authorised’ to accept service on his behalf,” Judge Kaplan stated.
Lawyers representing Giuffre claim to have made five attempts to reach the royal, with representatives from the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner having released photographs showing an envelope being posted on September 9, which they claim contains papers informing him of the case.
Separately, the UK High Court accepted a request earlier this week by Giuffre’s lawyers, setting a one-week deadline for the Duke of York to challenge the London court’s decision to formally contact the Prince to inform him of the start of legal proceedings.
Previously, Giuffre’s representatives have accused 61-year-old Andrew of “actively evading” attempts to serve him with legal documents, stating that he cannot play a “game of hide and seek behind palace walls.”
The case is based on Giuffre’s claims that the Prince sexually assaulted her at three locations, including New York City and the London home of Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations, most infamously in a BBC Newsnight interview prior to his departure from public life.
His desperate attempts to avoid the summons just tell us how afraid he is of this lawsuit.
On the 24th Sept, Prince Andrew finally acknowledged receipt of the documents.
Ex-Chicago NHL player sues team, alleges sexual assault
by former assistant
Unidentified player says alleged sexual assault occurred during 2010 Stanley Cup run
The Associated Press ·
Posted: Jun 24, 2021 6:31 PM ET
An unidentified former Chicago player says in a lawsuit against the team that a then-assistant coach sexually assaulted him in 2010 during a playoff run to a Stanley Cup title and that the team did nothing after he informed a now-retired employee.
Chicago's WBEZ reported that former assistant coach Bradley Aldrich was convicted in 2013 in Michigan of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a student.
The former player's attorney says inaction by Chicago helped enable Aldrich to go on and assault the Michigan student, and possibly others.
An attorney for Aldrich told WBEZ his client denied the allegations in the lawsuit. The team has said the allegations directed at it were groundless.
Bishop names Enoch Powell in paedophile ring,
satanic worship scandal - Bishop
By Cahal Milmo
Belfast Telegraph
March 29 2015 11:47 PM
Enoch Powell - the former South Down MP and late Conservative anti-immigrant firebrand who died in 1998 - is being investigated as a member of an alleged Westminster paedophile network after his name was supplied to police by a senior Anglican bishop.
'A senior Anglican bishop!' - I wonder where he got his information from?
Powell, who achieved notoriety with his "Rivers of Blood" speech decrying migration to Britain, is the latest senior Parliamentarian to be made the subject of police inquiries into an alleged Establishment sex ring.
The Metropolitan Police has several ongoing investigations relating to claims against suspected abusers, including the former Liberal MP Cyril Smith. Detectives are also investigating allegations against former Home Secretary Leon Brittan.
It's understood the claims against Powell were passed to police by the Right Reverend Paul Butler, the Bishop of Durham, more than a year ago but have only now been made public.
The Rt Rev Butler contacted police after details of the allegations against the late Conservative politician were passed to him by a fellow clergyman, Dominic Walker, the former Bishop of Monmouth. It is understood that the Rt Rev Walker first heard the claims when he was counselling young adults as a curate in the 1980s and claims were made that an unknown number of MPs had been involved in satanic cult-type abuse.
The claim was originally submitted to Operation Fernbridge, a police investigation into abuse claims relating to the Elm guest house in London - which is at the centre of allegations that it was used by powerful individuals during the 1970s and 1980s for organised sexual abuse.
Fernbridge has now closed but allegations submitted to it remain the subject of other ongoing investigations.
The Church of England said: "The name of Enoch Powell was passed to Operation Fernbridge by one of our safeguarding team on the instruction of Bishop Paul Butler."
Multiple claims of satanic abuse were made in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the notorious case in the Orkney Islands during which children were removed from their homes.
A subsequent government-backed inquiry found no evidence to substantiate any of the 86 separate alleged cases.
It is understood the allegations against Powell came from a single individual. Institutions such as the Church of England now automatically pass allegations of abuse to the police for assessment.
Profile
Enoch Powell was one of the most divisive politicians of the late 20th century. An integrationist, he became disillusioned with Ted Heath's approach to Northern Ireland and ended his Westminster career as the Ulster Unionist MP for South Down from 1974 to 1987. A powerful orator, Powell's time as a frontline politician came to an abrupt end when he was sacked from the Shadow Cabinet in 1968 the morning after the "Rivers of Blood" speech. It was revealed by a confidante after his death that he had had at least one gay relationship, although this has been disputed.
R. Kelly found guilty of 9 charges in sex trafficking trial
Published 10 hours ago, BBC
Singer R. Kelly has been found guilty of exploiting his superstar status to run a scheme to sexually abuse women and children over two decades.
Eleven accusers - nine women and two men - took the stand over the searing six-week trial to describe sexual humiliation and violence at his hands.
After two days of deliberation, the jury found the US star guilty on all nine charges he was facing.
Sentencing is due on 4 May and he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The jury found Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was the ringleader of a violent and coercive scheme that lured women and children for him to sexually abuse.
The singer - most famous for the hit songs I Believe I Can Fly and Ignition (Remix) - was also found to have trafficked women between different US states.
Along with eight counts of sex trafficking, Kelly was found guilty of racketeering - a charge normally used against organised crime associations.
During the trial, prosecutors detailed how his managers, security guards and other entourage members worked to assist him in his criminal enterprise.
The court also heard how Kelly had illegally obtained paperwork to marry Aaliyah when she was 15 in 1994, seven years before the singer died in a plane crash.
The certificate, leaked at the time, listed Aaliyah's age as 18. The marriage was annulled months later.
Her 1994 debut album, Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, was produced and written by R. Kelly.
One woman who testified that Kelly imprisoned, drugged and raped her said in a written statement after the verdict that she had "been hiding" from Kelly due to threats made against her since she went public with her accusations.
"I'm ready to start living my life free from fear and to start the healing process," added the woman, identified in court as Sonja.
Another woman who testified in court, Lizette Martinez, said she was "relieved" by the verdict. "I'm so proud of the women who were able to speak their truths," she added.
Legal documents have revealed the mental torment that Kelly subjected his victims to. They were not allowed to eat or use the bathroom without his permission, he controlled what clothes they wore and made them call him "Daddy".
Gloria Allred, a lawyer who represented several victims, told reporters: "I've been practising law for 47 years. During this time, I've pursued many sexual predators who have committed crimes against women and children.
"Of all the predators that I have pursued, Mr Kelly is the worst."
At a news conference outside the court on Monday, prosecutor Jacquelyn Kasulis said that the jury had sent a message to other powerful men like Kelly. "No matter how long it takes, the long arm of the law will catch up with you," said Ms Kasulis.
The verdict comes 13 years after Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges after a trial in the state of Illinois.
Many of the allegations heard in the trial were first laid out in the 2019 documentary Surviving R Kelly.
Victims were sometimes selected from his concert audiences, or were enticed to join him after being offered help with their fledgling music careers after chance encounters with the singer.
But after joining his entourage, they found that they were subjected to strict rules and aggressively punished if they violated what his team had dubbed "Rob's rules".
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