R. Kelly identified in court

A witness in R. Kelly's trial has identified the singer in a sex tape being shown to the jury.

Simha Jamison, 24, told the Chicago court she recognised the 'I Believe I Can Fly' singer and her friend Roshona Landfair, 23, in the footage. She also revealed she and Roshona used to regularly meet with Kelly when they were around 12 or 13-years-old.

Simha said she was introduced to the music star by Roshona's godfather and used to regularly visit him in the recording studio, where Kelly would give Roshona money.

She said: "He would give me no less than $100 and no more than $500". Both Kelly and Roshona deny it is them in the video, which was made sometime between 1998 and 2000.

The singer's defence claim it can't be Kelly in the video because he has identifiable moles and scars on his back which are not on the man in the footage.

However, another witness claims the setting for the video seems to be that of the singer's home. The trial was almost declared a mistrial yesterday (21.05.08) after the first witness, retired police officer Dan Everett, referred to a previous investigation involving the girl in the video.

In an earlier closed hearing, it had been ruled the previous investigation could not be referred to during the trial. Judge Vincent Gaughan said he would call a mistrial if it happened again.

Kelly is on trial over 14 counts relating to the 26-minute video which shows a man having sex with a girl aged around 13.

According to reports, Kelly - whose real name is Robert - rocked in his chair as the "vile and disturbing" video was shown to the courtroom. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in jail.