NEW YORK — A former tour manager for R. Kelly told jurors at the R&B singer’s sex abuse trial on Friday that Mr. Kelly paid a $500 bribe in order to obtain a license to marry the singer Aaliyah when she was just 15 after fearing he had gotten her pregnant. Jurors also heard testimony from a former Kelly aide who said that working for his former boss was almost like being in a “twilight zone.” The testimony came on the third day of Mr. Kelly’s trial, where the 54-year-old known for the Grammy-winning song “I Believe I Can Fly” is accused of running a two-decade racketeering scheme in which he demanded absolute control over his alleged victims. Mr. Kelly’s nine-count indictment describes his alleged abuse of six women and girls, four underage. Mr. Kelly, who has pleaded not guilty and has denied wrongdoing, could face life in prison if convicted in the Brooklyn trial. He also faces sex-related criminal charges in Illinois and Minnesota. Mr. Kelly’s lawyers have said his accusers targeted him after the rise of the #MeToo social movement against sexual abuse and harassment, seeking to profit or extract revenge after their relationships did not work out. Demetrius Smith, 65, the former tour manager, said the bribe to obtain a fake ID for Aaliyah so she could marry Mr. Kelly, then 27, in August 1994 was arranged after Mr. Kelly told him while flying back to Chicago from a concert that Aaliyah was pregnant. Mr. Smith also said Mr. Kelly’s accountant began making arrangements for the marriage, and told Mr. Kelly “to protect himself, protect Aaliyah.” Asked by a prosecutor what Mr. Kelly needed protection from, Mr. Smith said: “I guess jail.” Jurors were also shown the marriage license for Mr. Kelly and Aaliyah, and heard testimony that Aaliyah’s parents should have attended the ceremony because of her age. Mr. Smith said they did not. The marriage was annulled after six months. Aaliyah died in a 2001 plane crash. — Reuters

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