May 22, 2008 0:40

R Kelly Trial: Day Six

Alleged victim's former friend says it IS Kelly in video

A former friend of the alleged victim in the R Kelly child pornography trial has testified that it is her friend and R&B singer Kelly in the video at the centre of the case.

Under cross-examination in Chicago today (May 21), Simha Jamison, now 24, said she recognised the girl in the tape from a mullet haircut they both had as youngsters. Jamison also confirmed that she and the alleged victim spent time at Kelly’s studio and home, as well as at a gym.

Jamison, whose nickname is ‘Punky’, said that sometimes her parents would drive them, others they would take the train or “bum a ride”. Sometimes they would leave the studio together, others she would leave and her friend would stay behind.

She said Kelly frequently gave her former friend money from $100 to $500 and that the girl had a black Chrysler PT Cruiser the summer before her sophomore year of high school, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Jamison however, admitted she never saw any sexual contact between the alleged victim and Kelly but she said "There were things I wouldn't tell her as I'm sure there were things that she wouldn't tell me."

The sex-tape was shown to jurors yesterday during the first day of testimony in the trial. Kelly’s defense is saying it is not him in the tape, and used a mole on his back as an example of a physical characteristic that does not match the man in the tape.

The video is poor quality, making it difficult to identify the girl and the man who appear in the footage. The trial continues tomorrow.

--By our New York staff.
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