Thursday 29 May 2008

'R.Kelly Is Man In Sex Tape'

R.Kelly has been identified as the man featured in the sex tape during his child pornography trial by his former personal assistant.

Lindsey Perryman also told the jury at the Chicago, Illinois courthouse that she knows the alleged underaged victim on Tuesday.

She stated that she was "110 per cent" sure Kelly appeared in the tape. She also identified the girl in the video, insisting she was between 13 and 14 years old at the time the explicit footage was recorded.

Perryman claims the alleged victim regularly visited Kelly at his recording studio, and on one occasion turned up with a pillow and an overnight bag.

She told the court: "I did not want to believe it was Mr Kelly (in the tape).

"I think so highly of him and his family, they have been so good to me. He treated me and the people who worked for him well."

However, Bennie Edwards Jr., a relative of the alleged victim, confessed he was unable to identify the people in the video.

He said: "It favoured Mr Kelly, but you only saw the bottom half of a goatee."

Asked if he could identify the female as his family member, he replied: "No. It's not her character."

Kelly stands accused of videotaping himself having sex with a 13-year-old girl, and could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. He denies the charges.

The trial continues.