Defence lawyers have opened their case in the trial of US singer R Kelly, calling on relatives of the alleged victim to testify.

Three of the relatives said on Wednesday that she was not the woman on a sex tape at the centre of the trial.

Also on Wednesday, a journalist who received the sex tape refused to answer questions in court.

The tape allegedly shows the musician having sex with an under-age girl - a charge Mr Kelly denies.

One of the defence witnesses to testify on Wednesday said the girl in the video tape was "definitely" not her relative.

She said the body of the woman on the tape appeared to be too developed to be her relative at the time.         

The defence also sought to discredit prosecution witness Lisa Van Allen, saying her fiance had sought $300,000 (£153,000) from R Kelly in order for her not to testify.

Mr Kelly is charged with 14 counts relating to child pornography in connection with a 26-minute video, believed to have been made between 1998 and 2000.

Mr Kelly, 41, whose hits include She's Got That Vibe and I Believe I Can Fly, faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted. // BBC