August 22, 2007 17:44

R Kelly judge allows video to be shown

However, they do not plan to call the alleged victim

The judge in the R Kelly child pornography case upheld his ruling allowing the public to view a videotape that allegedly shows the R&B singer having sex with a minor.

In pre-trial hearing Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Boliker again asked Judge Vincent Gaughan to bar the public from viewing the tape in court, which she said would be harmful to the girl portrayed in the video.

Boliker said: "The state alleges it to be a re-victimisation of the (girl in the tape)."

In his earlier ruling, Gaughan said there was not an "overarching interest" in keeping the media and the public from seeing a tape that is the "lynchpin" of the case.

However, at the pre-trial hearing, Gaughan said that because the girl has denied that she is on the tape, there is no victim to protect. Prosecutors said they do not plan to call the girl as a witness.

The court also heard several pretrial arguments on Tuesday (August 21), including whether a prosecution expert should be allowed to testify.

Boliker said she is planning to call Sharon Cooper, a developmental and forensic paediatrician, to testify that the reluctant behavior of the girl in the case is typical for someone who has been the victim of sexual abuse.

Gaughan is expected to rule on Cooper's testimony and other pretrial motions on September 10, reports Metromix.