CHICAGO - An FBI forensic expert testified on Thursday in the R Kelly child pornography trial that the male and female seen on a sex tape at the heart of the case were not computer-generated or altered.In more than an hour of highly technical analysis, George Skaluba told jurors that the video appears to depict "real people in a real environment".The defence maintains that the R&B star is not the man in the video, and has repeatedly suggested that his likeness could have been computer-generated onto the 27-minute tape.Kelly, 41, is charged with child pornography for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with a girl who prosecutors say was as young as 13. He has pleaded not guilty and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.Skaluba also told jurors that creating digital images would be costly and could take years."It would be very, very time consuming and very hard to do," Skaluba testified.Under cross-examination, Skaluba conceded he was not in a position to say if the male on the tape was actually Kelly or a lookalike.
Kelly's attorneys have also noted that the singer has a mole on his back and they claim the man on the tape does not. The alleged victim, now 23, also has denied she is the one in the graphic video.The tape obtained by prosecutors is not the original, but a copy several times removed from the original, Skaluba said.The Grammy-winner often appeared bored during testimony on Thursday, slouching slightly in his chair, his hand pressed against his cheek. At one point prosecutors displayed a still photo from the video on a large monitor that showed the male having sex with the female. Kelly then looked uncomfortable, furrowing his brow and narrowing his eyes.After five minutes, Kelly's attorney interrupted prosecutor Shauna Boliker and asked if she needed to keep the picture on display. Boliker said no and the photo was removed.Earlier on Thursday, prosecutors said they needed more time to interview a potential defence witness before he can testify. The man told Kelly's attorneys he had information that could impeach the testimony of a prosecution witness.- REUTERS
