Report: Then-14-Year-Old in R. Kelly's Sexual Assault Tape Is Now Cooperating With Authorities

Sparkle's niece, whose refusal to testify against the singer in the 2008 trial resulted in his acquittal, is now cooperating with prosecutors.

R. Kelly's new case may end differently than his last.

According to a report in The New York Times, the young girl who appeared in the infamous tape that showed the R&B singer performing sex acts and urinating on the then-14-year-old is now cooperating with prosecutors. The woman, who is now in her 30s and had been identified by singer Sparkle as her niece, had refused to testify against R. Kelly in his 2008 trial, which resulted in his acquittal.

The Times reports, her lawyer says she is now cooperating with authorities.

READ: Report: R. Kelly's Former Staffers Gave Feds 20 More Sex Tapes with Minors

Fourteen witnesses had identified the girl in the video during the 20018 trial, but she and members of her family did not testify. Kelly's defense team had argued that the girl and Kelly could not be identified in the tape, and some jurors said the girl’s refusal to testify made it difficult to convict him.

Last week, Kelly was arrested for an additional 13 counts of federal sex trafficking and child pornography charges.

According to a federal indictment unsealed last week, Kelly gave the girl and her family gifts and money before and after the trial so she would lie to investigators, avoid questioning, and so she would not testify against him.

Kelly is now facing state and federal charges including sexual assault, obstruction of justice, child pornography, and racketeering. Prosecutors say he victimized 12 women, at least eight of whom were underage at the time of the events.

Source: NY Times