A jury has been selected in the trial of hip-hop singer Lil' Kim, who faces charges of perjury.
Opening statements are due to begin today in the case against Lil' Kim, real name Kimberly Jones, and her personal assistant Monique Dopwell in Manhattan Federal Court.
The charges arise from a claim that the singer lied to a federal grand jury investigating a 2001 shootout.
The shootout occurred outside Manhattan radio station Hot 97 on 25 February 2001, where Jones and associates from the rap group Junior MAFIA had been appearing as on-air guests.
Members of Jones' entourage and a rival hip-hop group were involved in a shootout, in which one man was injured. Jones and Dopwell were later indicted for lying to the grand jury about their knowledge of the shooters and the motive for the shooting.
Prosecutors charge that both women lied during the course of the investigation into the shootout, in order to protect members of the singer's entourage who were involved in the incident.
Jones is charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of perjury, three counts of making false statements and one count of obstruction. The obstruction count carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and the other charges each carry possible five-year terms.
Two other members of the entourage were originally indicted in the case, but they have pleaded guilty.
