The question of whether R. Kelly is indeed the man on that infamous sex tape is going to be addressed again at a hearing on December 18th. Forensic expert Sheila Cooper, a developmental pediatrician, says she can postively ID the Chocolate Factory crooner on the fuzzy video based on “a comparison of the vein pattern of Kelly’s hand with the hand of the man portrayed in the video.” It’s like Cold Case, but without the Nirvana soundtrack. Kelly will most likely attend that hearing (which will examine whether or not Cooper’s evidence is admissible), as his Double Up tour travels from Sacramento, CA, to Chicago that day.

Kelly’s defense team also won a major victory late last week, as the prosecution in the Trapped In A Closet’s star nearly five-year-old child-pornography case learned that other testimony from Cooper would be deemed inadmissible. Cooper was supposed to testify that it is typical for victims of child pornography to deny involvement, which is the case of the girl in R.’s supposed tape, even though that girl is now in her early twenties. Under Illinois law, witnesses can not testify regarding the credibility of another witness’ testimony, which is what Cooper would have done regarding the underage girl. While the “underage” girl is not expected to be a witness in this trial (the prosecution has said they will not call her to the stand), the girl already gave grand jury sworn testimony (plus, the defense may call her as a witness).

This whole ordeal makes us long for simpler times. While Cooper’s inadmissibility hurts the prosecution, it doesn’t entirely paralyze their case. The state will now rely on the testimony of friends, family and documents to prove the age of the girl. Kelly’s trial is expected to finally, finally begin sometime next spring, which should allow R. to film at least another twenty-two chapters of Trapped. If convicted, he faces up to fifteen years in prison.

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• R. Kelly Sex Tape Will Be Shown During Trial