Former Kilpatrick Foe McPhail Testifies In His Defense
DETROIT (WWJ) It was the defense's opportunity to present their case Monday in the corruption trial of former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and a one-time political foe took the stand today in his defense.
Former corporation counsel and mayoral candidate Sharon McPhail hit back at two of the prosecution's key witnesses -- Derrick Miller and fundraiser Emma Bell.
Bell had earlier testified that she was forced to kickback a portion of a commission to the former mayor. McPhail said she doesn't believe it.
"As far as Emma's concerned, I like Emma, it's kind of like one of those things, she's a nice, interesting kind of person, but I always knew she didn't like me, so I always knew the whole thing was kind of a dance," McPhail said outside the courtroom to WWJ's Vickie Thomas.
McPhail told jurors Bell and Miller aren't trustworthy.
"The whole business about me having a bad opinion of the mayor at first had to do with Derrick Miller telling me the mayor told him to do something which the mayor never told him to do," McPhail said.
Kilpatrick and two others are accused of corruption, bribery and other charges in a wide-ranging city hall scandal. The defense could wrap up its case sometime next week.
Both Miller and Bell had testified in detail about kickbacks and bribes going directly into Kilpatrick's pockets.
The defense could wrap up its case next week.
