R. Kelly’s trial was adjourned Wednesday after a lawyer for the R&B singer said he received a call from a man who claims to have information relevant to the case. Judge Vincent Gaughan said attorneys needed time to depose the man, who potentially could impeach someone else’s testimony, but didn’t elaborate. Kelly attorney Sam Adam Sr. said the man was flying to Chicago on Wednesday night from another state. Kelly, 41, has pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of child pornography for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. His lawyers maintain he is not on the tape, and the alleged victim, now 23, has denied she is on the tape. But a dozen witnesses have identified the same person as the alleged victim who prosecutors claim was a minor when the tape was made. Prosecutors claim the tape was made between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1, 2000, and that the female participant was born in September 1984. On Wednesday, a high school basketball coach testified that one of his former players is the young female who appears on the sex tape at the center of the trial. Jacques Conway said he recognized his former player, in part, by a distinctive cross worn by the female participant on the graphic 27-minute videotape. He said he had seen his former player wear the necklace. Kelly attorney Sam Adam Jr. asked Conway about the alleged victim’s character. “At any time did you see anything that would lead you to believe she would sell her body for money?” Adam asked. “No,” Conway responded. The man on the videotape is seen handing money to the female participant. A middle school basketball coach, who said he got to know the alleged victim through some of her friends, also testified Wednesday that she was on the tape. Although Kelly won a Grammy in 1997 for the gospellike song “I Believe I Can Fly,” his biggest hits are raunchy ballads like “Ignition” and his current single, “Hair Braider.” He is scheduled to release a new album in July. Credit: AP
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