R KELLY - JUDGE ORDERS REPORTER TO APPEAR IN R KELLY TRIAL

JUDGE ORDERS REPORTER TO APPEAR IN R KELLY TRIAL

The journalist who received the sex tape at the centre of the R Kelly trial has been ordered to appear in court to give evidence.

Judge Vincent Gaughan rejected the arguments from the Chicago Sun-Times lawyers who claim that ordering Jin DeRogatis to appear violates his rights as a reporter.

He claimed that Mr DeRogatis' appearance would not be as a journalist but as a "material witness to a crime".

The music critic failed to appear yesterday but the judge has ordered he appears today.

Mr DeRogatis handed over the controversial tape to the authorities in 2002. The video allegedly shows the rap star having sex with an underage girl.

Mr Kelly vehemently denies the claim however.

He is charged with 14 counts relating to child pornography in connection with the 26-minute tape.