Defence calls initial witnesses in latest R Kelly trial

completemusicupdate.com:

The defence started presenting their arguments in the latest R Kelly trial last week. Things got underway with the confirmation that Kelly himself will not testify, but his former business manager Derrel McDavid, a co-defendant in the case, will.Kelly, of course, is facing a new round of charges, this time in his hometown of Chicago, in relation to the allegations of sexual abuse that have followed him around for decades.

McDavid and another co-defendant, Milton ‘June’ Brown, are accused of helping Kelly cover up that abuse during an earlier criminal investigation back in the 2000s.The musician was not expected to testify, he having not provided any testimony at his previous two trials, ie the 2008 trial, also in Chicago, where he was acquitted, and last year’s trial in New York where he was found guilty of running a criminal enterprise to access and abuse women and teenagers.

And on Thursday, when asked if he would testify this time, he told the judge, simply, “No – I’m not going to testify”.Brown also confirmed that he will not testify, while McDavid on the other hand confirmed that he will.

His lawyers had already said their client planned to speak during the court proceedings, and he is now likely to take to the witness stand tomorrow.Another expected confirmation that came on Thursday was judge Harry Leinenweber rejecting a motion from the defendants to acquit them of all charges without any jury deliberations.