*Jurors in the child pornography trial of R. Kelly had Friday off, but business was still being handled inside of the Chicago court room.

      Defense attorneys filed a motion seeking testimony from Chicago Sun-Times reporter Jim DeRogatis, who in 2002 was sent the sex tape that allegedly shows Kelly having intercourse with an underage girl. Kelly's lawyers want to ask DeRogatis how he came in possession of the tape and if he made copies.

      An attorney for the Chicago Sun-Times says DeRogatis' actions should be privileged under the First Amendment. The judge says a ruling on the matter will be made on May 30.

      Also on Friday, Cook County State's Atty. Shauna Boliker said her office prepared a response to a defense motion asking that prosecutors file criminal charges against one of the state's witnesses.

       Last month, the judge allowed a series of secret hearings concerning a witness who is set to testify that she had a three-way sexual encounter with Kelly and the alleged underage girl in the tape. The woman could take the stand as early as today and is expected to identify Kelly and the girl on the video.

       On Thursday, Kelly's former protégé and backup singer, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, testified that the girl in the tape is her relative. Edwards said she introduced Kelly to the girl, who was 12 or 13 at the time.

       "He liked her spirit. She was a very jolly person," said Edwards, who also leaned forward and identified the Grammy winner as the man she saw on the sex tape.      

       Kelly, 41, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all 14 counts. He has pleaded not guilty.