BROOKLYN (New York) For many years, the story about R. Kelly's marriage to Aaliyah Haughton, 15-year-old, was shrouded with mystery. Even after the media published the marriage license, the two denied that it had occurred.
On Wednesday, Kelly, a federal racketeering trial and sex trafficking case in Brooklyn, saw the first public appearance of the minister who had married the two singers Aug. 31, 1994.
Nathan Edmond, now aged 73, stated to the court that he had never met Kelly or Haughton before the ceremony and didn't know who they were.
Edmond stated that he didn't believe it was a special case and didn't fully understand the matter. The testimony was given over video conference. Edmond spoke after being subpoenaed and admitted that he didn't want to take the stand.
According to the federal indictment against Kelly he met Haughton at 12 years of age and started a sexual relationship while she was still a teenager. Prosecutors claim that Kelly married Haughton because he believed that she was pregnant and it would prevent her from giving evidence against him. Kelly was previously accused of bribing an Illinois official to obtain a fake Illinois ID for Haughton. The marriage license incorrectly listed Kelly's age as 18. Edmond was then summoned to perform the ceremony.
Edmond recalls that a friend of Mr. Kellys asked me to do a favor for him. Edmond explained that Keith Williams, Kelly's friend, knew Edmond as they both worked in real-estate.
Edmond stated that it was a short ceremony lasting about ten minutes in a hotel in Chicago's suburbs. Edmond didn't know three other gentlemen, Kelly, Haughton and Williams.
Edmond stated that he was asked to sign confidentiality agreements before he conducted the ceremony. However, he declined, stating that it wasn't legal. It was there, I took it out and read it. Then I chuckled and decided it wasn't worth the paper.
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Instead, he was asked to swear that he would not speak about the ceremony. He agreed. He was offered $25 to $50 to officiate the ceremony, but he declined.
Edmond stated that Kelly and Haughton wore matching, jogging suits for the wedding ceremony. Each had one leg of the pants rolled up to their knees. Edmond stated that you couldn't see her entire face because her hair was too long.
Edmond said that he has been approached by media throughout the years but had not spoken publicly about the ceremony until Wednesday.
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