R. Kelly co-defendant testifies he was suspicious of sexual misconduct claims against singer

CHCAGO — Derrel McDavid, R. Kelly’s former business manager and current co-defendant, has taken the stand in his own defense Wednesday in the final days of the disgraced singer’s Chicago federal trial.

McDavid, 61, has been conversational and animated on direct examination, offering slight smiles and sometimes heavy sighs while describing the excitement and frustration of managing Kelly’s meteoric rise to fame.

At one point, when describing how Kelly was a rare “self-contained” star who could do it all, McDavid gestured toward Kelly at the defense table, saying he could “sit right there at that table and produce a song.”

McDavid said he also saw a darker side to Kelly’s fame. During his employment with Kelly, McDavid came to believe that the slew of accusers who filed sexual misconduct lawsuits against the singer were untruthful, he testified, all just out for a payday from his famous employer.

McDavid’s defense against conspiracy charges hinges in part