May 22, 2008
BY ERIC HERMAN AND KIM JANSSEN Staff Reporters

Four people -- including two relatives -- identified the female in the alleged R. Kelly sex video Wednesday, saying she appears to be 13 or 14 on a tape that shows her having sex with the R&B superstar.

But lawyers for Kelly hammered the prosecution witnesses, suggesting the tape was doctored and part of a plot by relatives to get money from the singer.

Simha Jamison, 24, testified she was the alleged victim's best friend growing up -- even telling jurors the girl's birthday. The girl called Kelly "Godfather" and at times received gifts of $100 to $500 from him, Jamison said.

Jamison saw the sex tape twice, once in high school and again Wednesday, she said. Both times, she recognized her best friend and Kelly.

Lawyer suggests tape doctored "I know her like the back of my hand," Jamison said. The girl's haircut indicated she was 14 on the tape, Jamison said.

"We got our hair cut the same way together. It's a mullet. Short at the top, long at the back," she testified.

But during cross-examination, defense lawyer Sam Adam Jr. noted Jamison knew nothing about the tape's origins. "Something could have been done to that tape to put [Kelly's] head on a different body, and you wouldn't know it," Adam said.

He also got Jamison to admit she, too, had received gifts from Kelly -- including $100 for her 13th birthday.

Kelly is on trial for child pornography charges and has pleaded not guilty.