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And Smith didnt just go along with it he was an active participant.
Smiths continued commitment to Kelly was apparent in court.
He previously spoke in the Lifetime docuseriesSurviving R. Youre in good company, a lot of people dont, Judge Ann Donnelly said.
The bottom line is you have to testify.
I didnt [do anything] to be prosecuted for, so why would I testify?
Period, said Smith, whose behavior ranged from combative to somewhat taunting during his time in court.
At the beginning, Smith said, I just wanted to be someone he could look up to.
As Kellys career picked up, Smith said, I just wanted him to be comfortable.
Hankerson wanted them to hear her sing, so they traveled to Michigan and went to the Haughtons house.
She was very shy, Smith said of Aaliyah.
Kelly went to the piano and brought angelic stuff out of her.
Dont she have something special?they both thought.
Aaliyah and her parents wound up traveling to Chicago, so she and Kelly could work together.
She had just turned 13.
Prosecutors asked: Did they socialize outside the studio?
Were they ever alone together?
Yes, we all socialized, Smith said.
If Robert wanted to be alone with Aaliyah, it was all about the music.
What did Kelly say about needing to be alone with Aaliyah?
To work on her vocals.
He would say he needs to spend time with her, Smith said.
Smith was then asked whether he ever had a conversation with Kelly about his relationship with Aaliyah.
There was a long pause.
I thought that they were playful and at times.
I didnt want people to have the wrong vision of things, Smith said of his inquiries.
Kellys involvement with Aaliyah took an even more disturbing tour when he was on tour in 1994.
Shortly before Kelly was to perform one night, he remarked that Aaliyah was in trouble.
After the show, they headed to the airport and boarded a plane back to Chicago.
Smith described Kellys demeanor as quiet.
She thinks shes pregnant, Smith recalls Kelly saying.
The idea behind this was that if Aaliyah were married to Kelly, she couldnt testify against him.
Smith told Kelly that just bcecause Aaliyah said she was pregnant doesnt mean shes pregnant.
He was crying a lot.
He was crying, Smith said.
I told him that he couldnt marry Aaliyah, that she was too young.
He said, which side was I on?
Smith wound up playing an integral role in the illicit nuptials.
Shortly after arriving in Chicago, they went to a hotel where Aaliyah was in a room.
He didnt like what was going on, but felt like he would be pushed out of Kellys circle.
I wanted to stay in the loop.
Smith said he would get Aaliyah a fake ID, because she couldnt marry at her age.
He drove to the welfare office, with Kelly and Aaliyah in a car behind him.
They found an obliging clerk.
I made her an offer, she took the money; I gave her 500 bucks, he said.
He was 27 and she 15.
Im uncomfortable talking constantly about Aaliyah, Smith snapped shortly after describing the marriage plot.
Her parents arent here, and I dont want to understand why I gotta do that.
Smiths most fervent expression of remorse seemed to come Monday morning, when the trial resumed.
That shouldnt have happened.
I shouldnt be talking about [Aaliyah], shes not here, he said.
Keith Williams said that a person in his church introduced him to Kelly, before he got signed.
Weve been friends for a long time, he said.
Did you ever have an opportunity to meet people in the defendants inner circle?
I met a number of people, Williams said.
Are you familiar with an individual named Barry Hankerson?
prosecutors asked, referring to Kellys former manager, who was also Aaliyahs uncle.
Yes, he said.
Are you familiar with an individual named Aaliyah?
Shes the entertainer who died a tragic death.
What was their relationship?
Im told that they were married … it was referenced in the public.
He said yes, and then was asked to provide information on what happened during this visit.
He indicated, I believe, that he was gonna get married.
Prosecutors asked whether Kelly indicated who he wanted to marry.
Williams testified that there were a number of people with Kelly, including Smith.
The prosecution asked Williams what Kelly said to him.
He asked if I knew a minister.
Williams said yes, and gave him the name of a clergyman.
But, he said, My assumption was it was gonna be soon.
Williams became emotional on the stand when he was asked about his own criminal woes.
In the early 2000s, he was convicted of bank fraud and perjury.
Kelly floated the idea of Williams working with him.
Williams said he did not wind up working for Kelly.
Prosecutors objected, and that line of questioning ended.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
