R. Kelly co-defendant takes stand, says he was suspicious of sexual misconduct claims against singer

CHCAGO — R&B superstar R. Kelly had already been the target of several lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct when he told his then-business manager in December 2000 that his 14-year-old goddaughter “was being harassed” by police to admit they were having an inappropriate relationship.

The business manager, Derrel McDavid told a federal jury Wednesday that when he asked Kelly if the allegation regarding the girl, “Jane,” was true, the singer exploded.

“ ‘Are you out your goddamn mind?’ ” McDavid testified Kelly said at the time. “ ‘This is my goddaughter! Of course there’s no truth to this.’ ”

McDavid said Kelly was convinced that Jane’s aunt, Stephanie “Sparkle” Edwards, and his former personal manager, Barry Hankerson, who each had axes to grind against Kelly, were behind it. Police later interviewed the goddaughter, “Jane,” and her family, who denied it all, and no charges were ever brought, he said.

It all added up in his mind that there was “absolutely no truth to it,” McDavid testified.

“Every statement, every report, every lawyer’s letter, all said the same