Connect with us

Entertainment

Court Sentences Rapper, Tory Lanez To 10-years Imprisonment For Shooting Megan Thee Stallion

Published

on

A court has sentenced popular Canadian rapper, Tory Lanez to 10 years in jail for shooting and wounding his ex-lover and colleague, Megan Thee Stallion.

The 31-year-old begged the judge to not send him to jail in an LA courtroom on Tuesday. He shot Megan in the feet during a drunken argument after a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s house in 2020 – that also involved Megan’s assistant Kelsey Harris.

At his sentencing on Tuesday, convicted Canadian musician Lanez said that victim Megan is ‘someone I still care for dearly to this day’ despite the outcome.

Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, said about the shooting that put him behind bars for a decade: ‘I said some very immature things that I shouldn’t have said.

‘I revealed some secrets I shouldn’t have revealed.’ 

The sentence brings an end to a dramatic trial that created a cultural firestorm in the hip-hop community.

The rapper, wearing a black skull cap, was handcuffed in his orange prison overalls as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford handed down the sentence.

The judge denied the probation that Lanez’s defense had been asking for. Before being given 10 years, Lanez begged the judge not to send him to jail.

In a 15-minute address, the musician said: ‘Give me some sort of alternative that is not prison. I can be a much better man in my community.

‘I’m not standing before you as a celebrity. I stand her as a genuine person who wants a chance. My child needs me – I want to better myself.

‘I want a chance to show the world that the man you see here today is not the real me.

‘I’m not expecting preferential treatment. But, your honor I’m genuinely asking you with my heart to put me to the test, to give me an opportunity.

‘There have been these misconceptions about me being this monster, of not having remorse. But that’s just not true.

‘That night, everybody was drunk, I said some very immature things…I was wrong. If I could turn back the clock I would….I apologize.

‘Everything I did that night I’m take responsibility for. I ask you for the chance to be a better father, a better mentor. I’m asking you not to judge me just on this case, but on the full scope of my life.

‘I do have a habitual disorder – I want to be a better person.’

Speaking about Megan Thee Stallion, Lanez told the court at his hearing that they bonded over the deaths of their mothers.

He said: ‘We both lost our mothers. We would sit there and drink, and drink until we got numb.’

In making his decision, the judge took into account two ‘aggravating factors’ that had been proven by the prosecution and warranted sentencing enhancements – the fact that Lanez used a gun and that his victim, Megan, was ‘particularly vulnerable or defenseless.’

But Judge Herriford found that prosecutors had not proven a third aggravating factor – that Lanez displayed ‘cruelty, viciousness or callousness’ toward Megan, even though Deputy District Attorney Alex Bott argued that he showed ‘a complete lack of regard for human life’ and ‘with less luck this would be a murder case.’

Lanez’s attorneys maintained that he was not a threat to society and probation, mental health therapy and treatment for alcohol abuse would be a better solution than jail.

And, they said, if probation wasn’t acceptable, then his jail term should be no longer than three years.

But while Judge Herriford said he had taken into account Lanez’s ‘multiple philanthropic endeavors,’ and his previous clean record, he rejected the defense arguments Tuesday.

The judge told the court that he had difficulty reconciling the ‘philanthropic and talented’ persona of Lanez with the man convicted of gun violence.

‘Sometimes good people do bad things,’ the judge said.

He dismissed the defense’s assertion that Lanez mental condition due to childhood trauma was partly to blame for the shooting.

While alcohol was involved, that night, said Judge Herriford: ‘It’s clear that the (shooting) incident occurred as the result of an argument – I don’t see a nexus in a mental disorder and the offense.’

Earlier Tuesday, defense attorney Matthew Barhoma blasted prosecutors for the ‘disparity of seeking a 13-year sentence,’ which, he added, ‘is quite a deviation from the LA DA’s own sentencing policy’.

‘This disparity is being sought out, just because he’s Tory Lanez. The fact that he’s Tory Lanez is not a reason to seek enhancements of sentence. The prosecutor is reaching.’

He argued that his client had not been involved in any prior violent acts and that the DA’s request for the sentence to be enhanced from 10 to 13 years ‘should be dismissed’ because the shooting was related to Lanez’ mental illness over his childhood trauma, and his alcohol abuse.

But the DA Bott countered: ‘This case has nothing to do with mental illness’ and said that Lanez shot Megan because she insulted his musical prowess during their drunken argument. ‘This violent shooting was over his bruised ego.’

The prosecution was seeking enhanced sentencing, said Bott, because the shooting involved ‘great bodily injury’ to Megan.

‘He fired the gun five times, striking the victim two times – he could have killed her.’

Bott’s co-prosecutor, DDA Kathy Ta added that they were seeking the enhanced sentence because of Lanez’ ‘threat to life and callousness, his lack of accountability…his brazen disregard for the court and the victim’s safety …and his conduct toward the victim afterward.’

Asked by the judge why prosecutors were asking for 13 years jail rather than 10, Ta said that anything less ‘would endanger public safety.’

Defense attorney Ed Welbourn recalled clinical psychologist Dr. Stephanie Herring to the stand to talk about Lanez’ alcohol abuse and she said that Tory had told her he would drink ‘up to a fifth of Petron tequila per night…to numb out.’

‘Is there a nexus between his all alcoholism and the shooting?’ asked Welbourn. ‘Absolutely,’ responded Dr. Herring.

But DDA Bott hit back saying,’There is not a single document showing he’s ever had treatment…for alcoholism. We have no verification of this.

‘This is just a strategy. Once again, (Lanez) is doing anything and everything to avoid being held accountable.’

Lanez’ defense team spent several hours during Monday and Tuesday calling witnesses who sang his clients’ praises and recounting his many acts of kindness and charity.

And after he showed several videos Tuesday showing Lanez’ philanthropic activities, DDA Bott scoffed: ‘I felt like I was here for a ‘Man of the Year’ award.

‘It doesn’t take much to give to charity when you are a man of great wealth….

‘We are here today because of a heinous act of violence on a defenseless woman. then he put her through hell for two years.

‘These are the actions of not a good, courageous person but a misogynist and a coward.

‘He asks the court for mercy. But where was the mercy for Megan?’

On the last day of Lanez’s 10-day trial on December 23 last year, the jury of seven women and five men unanimously convicted the rapper of three felonies.

He was found guilty of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, shooting a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle.

The assault carried a penalty of up to nine years in jail, the conviction for negligently shooting a gun up to three years and the concealed gun count three years.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Entertainment

Big Dreams, is set to release his debut Single’s , ‘Vanity & Painful On January 26th

Published

on

 

Delta State Born Singer, Big Dreams, is set to release his debut album,My Way ‘,’Coming Soon.

With they announcement of his two singles which are set to be released on 26 January 2024.

In the digital era of Afrobeats, the music superstar, Big Dreams, has established a name for himself thanks to a succession of great singles and collaborations.

They man of they moment has done great works, therefore this album will set a pathway to Greatness.

The musician made this announcement via his Twitter account. He characterized the album as everything he desires and all he stands for.

 

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Legendary singer, Kathy Brown diagnosed with stage four lung cancer

Published

on

Legendary house music singer, Kathy Brown has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer with the disease spreading to her brain.

The American singer, 63, known for songs including Turn Me Out (Turn to Sugar) and Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own) was diagnosed late last year after being admitted to ICU in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.

Doctors performed surgery to try and reduce swelling in Brown’s brain – with the star currently undergoing a course of radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Kathy’s daughter Chanta Joyner has set up a GoFundMe to fund medical expenses and monthly bills for the family.

Chanta wrote: ‘As the news is only just sinking in we are already facing the harsh reality of what this means for my mother – not only the physical and medical challenges but also the many financial ones.

‘Like most artists who have devoted their careers to dance music, without being able to perform LIVE there’s little to no chance of earning an income. My mother has poured her heart and soul onto stages and dance floors all over the world for more than thirty years, and now she needs your love and support more than ever.

‘My siblings and I are going to do everything we can to take care of her, but the costs we are facing with medical expenses and monthly bills are overwhelming.

‘My mom deserves the best care and comfort that money can buy. I know that she has thousands of fans all over the world who adore her voice and her beautiful spirit.

‘Please consider contributing to assist Kathy and get her through the weeks and months ahead. The London-based record label ‘Revival’ that she has recently been working with has offered to match contributions up to $10,000.

‘Let’s show my mom that the dance music community really is an extended family who keep each other lifted not only in the good times but the hard times too. Thank you for the love, support and many messages that you have been posting and sending to Kathy. I promise you that she sees every single one, and they mean so very much to her.

Brown originally found fame as the chart-topping lead singer of the group Praxis before having US dance hits on her own.

In 1999 she climbed to #4 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with Joy and in 2004 was the credited lead vocalist on the British act Soul Central’s Strings Of Life (Stronger On My Own), a track that samples Rhythm Is Rhythm’s 1989 House classic.

Over the years she featured on dozens of house and club singles.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Davido to headline UnitedMasters Grammy Weekend Concert amid latest scandals

Published

on

  1. Amid the latest scandals involving artist Davido, he is due to headline the highly anticipated UnitedMasters Grammy Weekend Concert.

Before the 66th Academy Grammy Awards, which will be hosted on Sunday, February 4th at Crypto Com Arena in Los Angeles, the UnitedMasters music platform will hold a Grammy weekend.

At this famous event, Davido will perform alongside Dominican rapper Tokischa and South African-based DJ Artist Uncle Waffles.

On Friday, February 2nd, 2024, the concert will be performed at the Hollywood Palladium

More than 2,500 people attended last year’s performance, including Jay Z and Beyonce, Nas, DJ Khaled, Wiz Khalifa, Future, Damson Idris, and others.

Davido’s fame surged following the publication of his comeback album, Timeless, which has surpassed one billion streams.

His new album had raised his profile and won him a Grammy nomination. At the 2024 Grammys, Timeless received three nominations: Best Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Global Music Album.

Continue Reading

Trending

Call Blow Naija