Jury selected for Lil' Kim trial

Lil' Kim faces jail if found guilty of the charges

A jury has been chosen for the trial of rapper Lil' Kim, who is accused of lying to a grand jury investigating a shooting in New York.

District Judge Gerard Lynch said opening statements in the trial would begin on Tuesday.

The incident occurred in 2001 as Lil' Kim's entourage was leaving hip-hop radio station WQHT in Manhattan. One man was injured in the shooting.

The rapper, real name Kimberly Jones, denies the charges.

She could face a possible jail term of up to 30 years if found guilty.

Indictment

Ms Jones is among four people, including one of her managers, named in an indictment in Manhattan federal court.

The rapper, who is known for her extravagant stage costumes, and her friend Monique Dopwell were indicted for lying to the grand jury about their knowledge of the shooters and the motive behind the incident.

The two other defendants, Damion Butler, a manager, and bodyguard Suif Jackson, were indicted for firing guns. Both men are currently serving prison terms on weapons charges.

Mr Jackson was jailed for 12 years last September after he admitted firing a gun at least 20 times in the incident.

Last August, Ms Jones complained the case was part of the government's continued denouncement of the hip-hop industry.

However, her lawyer, Mel Sachs, said: "The rap and hip-hop music industry are not on trial here. The musical artist known as Lil' Kim is on trial here. Applying the law to the facts will mandate that she is not guilty."