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 Defence lawyers have opened their case in the trial of US singer R Kelly, calling on relatives of the alleged victim to testify. Three of the relatives said on Wednesday that she was not the woman on a sex tape at the centre of the trial. Four other relatives had earlier testified for the prosecution, saying they recognised the woman. Also on Wednesday, a journalist who received the sex tape refused to answer questions in court. The tape allegedly shows the musician having sex with an under-age girl - a charge Mr Kelly denies. One of the defence witnesses to testify on Wednesday said the girl in the video tape was "definitely" not her relative. She said the body of the woman on the tape appeared to be too developed to be her relative at the time. Another witness said the alleged victim's family had "pretty much split in half" over the case, with other witnesses having earlier testified for the prosecution. The defence also sought to discredit prosecution witness Lisa Van Allen, saying her fiance had sought $300,000 (£153,000) from R Kelly in order for her not to testify. Reporter During Wednesday's court session Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis appeared at the trial, having declined to show up a day earlier. He read a statement more than a dozen times in response to questions, including whether he had made the sex tape, the Associated Press reported. He cited a local law on reporters' rights and constitutional protections. Mr DeRogatis gave the sex tape to the authorities in 2002. Judge Vincent Gaughan said reporters' privileges did not apply, but that Mr DeRogatis did not have to testify based on his constitutional rights against self-incrimination, AP reported. A defence lawyer said Mr DeRogatis would not be asked about his sources. Mr Kelly is charged with 14 counts relating to child pornography in connection with a 26-minute video, believed to have been made between 1998 and 2000. Mr Kelly, 41, whose hits include She's Got That Vibe and I Believe I Can Fly, faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.
Related Stories-R-Kelly-porn-trial-gets-under-way  R&B singer R Kelly has arrived at court in Chicago to face child pornography charges, nearly six years after first being arrested. The performer has denied filming himself engaging in sex acts with a girl, who prosecutors in the US say could have been as young as 13. The 41-year old faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Mr Kelly's lawyers' request to postpone the trial was denied. Jury selection will continue on Monday.The defence team argued the singer could not more -Witness-friend-in-R-Kelly-video  A witness at the trial of US R&B star R Kelly has identified her childhood friend and the singer in a child sex video Mr Kelly is accused of making. Simha Jamison, 24, told the Chicago court that she recognised her friend, now aged 23, from her face. She said the two of them often met Mr Kelly when they were around age 12. Mr Kelly denies filming himself having sex with an underage girl and his lawyer said neither his client nor the alleged victim are on the video. Mr Kelly is charged more Kelly-on-a-man-hunt  Kelly Brook is moving back to the UK to find a new man. The actress was seen moving out of former fiance Billy Zane’s Los Angeles home on Wednesday. Smiling Kelly loaded her belongings into a removal van before heading off for lunch with her mother Sandra. She is expected to move back to her house in Lenham, Kent, soon and a friend of the former Strictly Come Dancing star revealed she is already looking for a new man. Actress Natassia Malthe revealed, “She missed being in a relationship. She loves all the more Trial-run-at-Shamshabad  The ministry of civil aviation will conduct trial runs at the International Airport at Shamshabad from November. During the trial run, flights will take off and land and the runway will also be inspected. The mock trial run will also check the efficiency of the security measures in place as well as the cargo handling capacity and efficiency. The airport will be thrown open to public as scheduled in March 2008. &n more Kelly-Brook-strips-down-to-a-skimpy-bikini-for-a-live-stage-performance  Hot-bod telly presenter Kelly Brook just got bolder. The sultry babe flaunted her curvaceous figure and full cleavage as she stripped down to a skimpy bikini in front of believe it or not a live audience for her West End stage debut. The sassy babe surely added the zing factor with her dare to bare act to the comical play ‘Fat Pig’. Kelly played the charater of a stylish American girl who works in an office and is horrified when her boyfriend Tom (Nicholas Burns) dumps her for 20-stone libraria more The-eight-year-itch  All is not hunky-dory between Lara Dutta and boyfriend Kelly Dorjee. If common friends are to be believed, after living-in for over eight years now, the cracks in the relationship are showing. Sources close to the couple inform that arguments and fights have become a regular feature in their Bandra apartment. Earlier this week, Kelly (sans Lara) was seen having a gala dinner with a few friends at a posh suburban restaurant. When a few friends quizzed him about girlfriend La more Koi-meal-gaya!  Lara Dutta and Kelly Dorjee were spotted having lunch together yesterday at Royal China, Bandra. Clearly, there is no bitterness between the two even after they ended their eight-year-long relationship. An onlooker present at the restaurant said, “Lara was not her usual glamorous self. Even though she had not worn any make up, she looked pretty in sneakers, a pink spaghetti top and blue track pants, which showed off her toned figure. Her hair was casually secured with a hair band. Kelly was wearing a grey t-shirt and j more -I-need-someone-handsome,-good-in-bed.--Kelly-Brook  English model Kelly Brook has revealed that she has a penchant for bedding handsome men. The curvy 28-year-old model, who is currently dating England rugby player Danny Cipriani, admits that she is attracted by his body. "I need someone funny, good in bed, handsome. Actually, just handsome will do. I'm so shallow at the moment," the Sun quoted her as saying. Brook, who is believed to be totally smitten by 20-year-old Cipriani, had kept mum about the relationship when she had been asked earlier. more Control-freak-Kelly-Osbourne Actress says she wears control underwear to ensure she looks svelte under her tight dresses  Kelly Osbourne wears control underwear. The Project Catwalk host revealed she wears Spanx body stockings “practically every day” to ensure she looks svelte under her tight dresses. Kelly - who has previously come under fire for her appearance, and has attracted considerable media attention because of her famous family - insists she has changed more R.-Kellys-child-pornography-trial-begins  The case involves a nearly decade-old home movie that allegedly shows the R & B singer having sex with a girl, who may have been 13. The paparazzi and TV news crews have spent weeks scouting the Cook County Criminal Court for the perfect spot to shoot arrivals, departures and stand-ups. The judge presiding over the case sought advice from a fellow jurist in Santa Barbara County on how to handle a case involving an international celebrity and the media blitz that is sure to fol more |
