Tory Lanez’s lawyers said they had explosive new evidence that could help secure the rapper’s release from a California prison, but a state appeals court has rejected their claims.
Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, was convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison for shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in her feet back in 2020, after a party in the Hollywood Hills.
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the California Court of Appeals denied two petitions from Lanez’s lawyers, calling them “piecemeal,” according to Rolling Stone.
Related: Tory Lanez Stabbing Suspect Had ‘Situation’ With Rapper Before Attack
Lanez now has a new legal team fighting for his freedom.
One of their petitions claimed Los Angeles police “misplaced” the gun used in the shooting, depriving the rapper’s lawyers access to the firearm.
But the three-judge appeals panel shot the argument down, saying they had a sworn statement from an LAPD officer in the case, who confirmed the gun, magazine, bullets and fragments collected at the scene of the shooting are all locked up and in police possession.
The second petition involved new statements from the rapper’s driver, Jauquan Smith, and Bradlie James, the bodyguard for Megan’s former friend Kelsey Harris.
Smith alleged he saw Harris holding the gun before the shooting, but he did not see who pulled the trigger. James alleged he overheard Harris, who was in the vehicle with Tory and Megan the day of the shooting, state that she allegedly fired the shots.
The remaining parts of the appeal will be heard Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom. Lanez’s attorneys are expected to argue that he did not get a fair trial.
During the rapper’s criminal trial, his previous attorney George Mgdesyan told jurors Harris was “the one who shot her friend,” and alleged Megan made up a story about the shooting. Harris denied shooting Megan during the trial.
Back in May, Lanez’s new attorneys and his father made their case to reporters in downtown Los Angeles and we recorded video. Defense attorney Walter Roberts repeated the allegation that Kelsey Harris was the shooter.
Urban Hollywood 411 contacted Harris for comment, however, she did not respond.
The lawyers said Lanez did not get a fair trial. They insisted former L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón — who was ousted by voters in November — allowed prosecutors in his office to unfairly pile on charges.
You may remember in April 2023, Lanez wrote an open letter to Gascón, saying he was an “innocent Black man, wrongfully convicted.” The letter, which was posted on Instagram, alleged prosecutors suppressed evidence that could have proven Lanez’s innocence.
The DTLA news conference took place just days after Lanez was attacked by another inmate and stabbed multiple times. The rapper’s father, Sonstar Peterson, said his son thought his life was over during the attack.
“He expressed his peace with God, believing it was his time,” Peterson stated. “God told him, ‘Do not give up!’”
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