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As the trial date in the R. Kelly child pornography case approaches, the girl allegedly video taped having sex with the R&B superstar is said to be taking the stand in Kelly's defense.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the young woman, who's father played bass for Kelly and who the singer refers to as his "goddaughter" in the liner notes of his TP2.com album, will turn 23 this September. She is set to take the stand and testify that she is in fact not the girl in the infamous video tape.
Prosecutors are expected to counter those claims by calling to the stand the young woman's relatives, friends, parents of friends and others, to testify that she was the girl in the video and that she wass about 14 when it was made.
The girl and her parents reportedly have told police and a grand jury that she was not the girl in the video. Refuting the claims is the girl's aunt, former R&B artist and Kelly protégé Sparkle, who confirmed that it was her niece on the video and that she appeared to be about 14 at the time.
At a previous court hearing in the summer of 2005, the girl's former best friend testified it was her friend in the video and that she remembers the time well, when both were 14, because both girls had the same haircut. Though she did not mention it on the stand, court papers indicate the friend said she and the other girl hung out with Kelly starting in the summer after sixth grade.
The trial, which is set to begin on September 17, is expected to last approximately three to four weeks. The Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter is facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the 14 counts of child pornography for which he is charged.
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