Lil' Kim witness admits shooting

Lil' Kim's lawyer (left) has said she is "not a criminal"

An associate of Lil' Kim, who is on trial in New York on perjury charges, has testified that he was involved in a shooting incident at a radio station.

Suif Jackson told Manhattan federal court he opened fire during the 2001 clash with a rival hip-hop group. One man was injured in the shooting.

Rap star Lil' Kim, real name Kimberly Jones, is accused of lying to a grand jury investigating the shooting.

She has pleaded not guilty to charges of perjury and conspiracy.

The charges stem from an incident in February 2001 outside New York's Hot 97 radio station, where Ms Jones and associates from rap group Junior Mafia had appeared as guests.

Mr Jackson was sentenced to 12 years in prison last September after pleading guilty to his part in the shoot-out.

Camera footage

Prosecutors claim that rapper Lil' Kim told a federal grand jury last year that she did not know Mr Jackson, but evidence showed the pair have been friends for the past decade.

Mr Jackson, forced to appear as a witness under a government subpoena, confirmed on Wednesday that he has known Ms Jones for about 10 years and was with her group on the day of the shooting.

He also admitted bringing a fully automatic machine gun with him from New Jersey and using it during the incident because, he claimed, he "was being fired on".

Prosecutors alleged that security camera footage showed Ms Jones standing on the street during the shoot-out, then jumping into a limousine with those suspected of being involved.

Damion Butler, Ms Jones' former manager, has also pleaded guilty to using weapons in the incident and is currently serving time. However, prosecutors claim Ms Jones denied before the federal grand jury last year that Mr Butler was with her on the day of the shooting.

The rapper, who is known for her extravagant stage costumes, is charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of perjury, three counts of making false statements and one count of obsctruction.

She faces a possible 30-year jail term if she is found guilty on all counts.