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Harvey Weinstein Hospitalized After Overturning Of Rape Conviction: “He’s Somewhat Of A Train Wreck Health Wise”

April 28, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Harvey Weinstein has reportedly been hospitalized after being examined by doctors upon his arrival at Rikers Island in New York City on Friday. His transport comes after the overturning of his 2020 rape conviction in an appeals court on Thursday. The film industry mogul’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, confirmed that his client is undergoing testing at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.

“They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. He’s got a lot of problems, he’s getting all kinds of tests. He’s somewhat of a train wreck health wise,” Aidala said, as noted by the Associated Press. He also claimed that Weinstein is still as strong as ever mentally. Aidala further explained that it can take state corrections and prisons officials up to two weeks to transport a prisoner. “He was not treated well. They refused to give him even a sip of water, no food, no bathroom break,” he said. “He’s a 72-year-old sickly man.”

Harvey Weinstein’s Lawyer Speaks With The Press

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, speaks to the press on April 25, 2024, in New York City. New York’s highest court on April 25 overturned Weinstein’s 2020 conviction on sex crime charges, a shock reversal in one of the defining cases of the #MeToo movement. In their 4-3 decision, Court of Appeal judges cited errors in the trial, including admitting the testimony of women who were not part of the charges against him. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

A judge previously sentenced Weinstein to 23 years in prison after the initial trial. Following the court’s decision on Thursday, however, he will now get a chance at a new trial. He and his legal team argued that the original trial permitted jurors to hear too much evidence not directly related to the specific charges for which he was on trial. Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, told Reuters: “We will do everything in our power to retry this case and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.”

Despite the news, Weinstein is still serving a 16-year prison sentence stemming from a conviction for rape in California in 2022. He has maintained his innocence over the years. Be on the lookout for further updates on Harvey Weinstein on HotNewHipHop.

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YNW Melly Retrial At A Standstill As Prosecutors Fight To Use Documentary As Evidence

April 26, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Today, YNW Melly appeared in court for a hearing in his retrial, but unfortunately, it didn’t result in any progress being made. The rapper’s defense team had filed a request to move forward with discovery, which the judge has yet to issue a ruling on. Currently, everything has been put on hold while prosecutors appeal Judge John Murphy’s decision to suppress a documentary as evidence in the trial.

The 20-minute doc is said to go over Melly’s rise to fame and was filmed just before the 2018 murders of his YNW associates, Sakchaser and Juvy. Allegedly, he’s seen holding a weapon at various points in the doc, and the murders are mentioned briefly at the very end. The state alleges that it proves Melly was at the scene of the crime. It could take months for prosecutors’ appeal to go through the appellate courts, making further delays highly likely.

YNW Melly Appears In Court

#YNWMellyTrial2: Here is a clip of @YNWMelly arriving at Friday’s hearing with Judge Murphy lll presiding and the State’s ASA Alixandra Buckelew and Melly’s Raven Liberty making arguments on Motion of Stay.

YNW Melly is currently detained at Paul Rein Detention Facility in… pic.twitter.com/SXHwDRwgI0

— Bryson “Boom” Paul (@brysonboompaul) April 26, 2024

YNW Melly is accused of murdering Sakchaser and Juvy back in 2018 and staging a drive-by shooting. He first went to trial last summer, and roughly a month later, Judge John Murphy declared a mistrial. The jury failed to come to a unanimous decision on whether or not they believed the rapper was guilty. The 24-year-old has been behind bars since February 2019, when he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He’s been denied bond and could face the death penalty if the retrial doesn’t go the way he hopes.

Today’s hearing comes after it was revealed that Melly was moved to a different facility earlier this month. For the first time in around five years, the “223’s” performer left Broward County Jail. He’s currently being held at the Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach, FL. What do you think of no progress being made in YNW Melly’s double murder retrial? Are you surprised? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

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R Kelly’s Child Pornography Conviction & Sentence Upheld In Chicago Court

April 26, 2024 by newhiphopnews

In February of last year, R Kelly was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for alleged sex crimes involving minors. 19 of the years were to be served concurrent with the sentence he was already serving. The year prior, he was handed 30 years for a federal racketeering conviction in New York. He’s since tried to appeal his conviction and 20-year sentence in Chicago, appearing in court today to learn his fate.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals shot down the appeal, upholding both his child pornography conviction and sentence. The news comes after the performer’s defense argued that the statute of limitations had passed in an attempt to get the conviction dropped. Clearly, the court wasn’t buying it, highlighting the “horrible, horrific” nature of his alleged crimes.

R Kelly To Remain Behind Bars

Singer R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail. (Photo by Antonio Perez – Pool via Getty Images)

The court also referred to his 30-year sentence for alleged racketeering out of New York as the “elephant in the room,” claiming that the alleged child pornography sentence was determined with it in mind. Kelly’s currently in the process of appealing his New York conviction. If he wins the appeal, this likely means that he’ll still serve the remaining 18 years of his sentence out of Chicago.

“Our fight is not over,” R Kelly’s lawyer Jennifer Bonjean told TMZ following the decision. “We will see review from the USSC (SCOTUS) on the statute of limitations questions at a minimum. And he has habeas remedies at his disposal. And if we win in NY. He will be entitled to resentencing in Illinois. So this story is far from over.” What do you think of R Kelly’s conviction being upheld? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

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Jam Master Jay’s Alleged Murderer Appeals Conviction

April 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The murder of Jam Master Jay went unresolved for nearly two decades. Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald “Tinard” Washington, the men allegedly behind the DJ’s death, were recently convicted. Now, however, the latter is attempting to appeal his conviction. Washington’s legal team asserts that the government has failed to provide sufficient evidence to link him to the 2002 drug conspiracy that resulted in Jam Master Jay being shot and killed. The legal team is looking to either reverse Washington’s charge or prompt a retrial.

The motion filed comes less than two months after Jordan Jr. and Washington were found guilty on ten different counts. Their legal teams made clear their intentions to appeal their convictions shortly after they were sentenced. At time of the initial ruling, federal prosecutors were confident that Jordan Jr. and Washington had murdered the Run-DMC member in “cold blood.” The prosecution alleged that Washington was a childhood friend of Jam Master Jay, and that the impetus behind Jay’s murder was a misunderstanding involving a cocaine distribution deal.

Ronald “Tinard” Washington Wants A Retrial

CLARKSTON, MI – JULY 29: DJ Jason ‘Jam Master Jay’ Mizell walks to the stage during the Together Forever Tour on July 29, 1987 at the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images)

Jordan Jr. and Washington are facing a minimum of 20 years to life in prison or the death penalty. The lawyer for the latter, Susan Kellman, put forth the notion that Washington and Jam Master Jay were on the same page regarding cocaine distribution, and that a man named Jay Bryant is actually to blame for Jay’s death. Kellman also argued that Jam Master Jay tried to advocate for Washington when the deal went south. “Think about it,” the lawyer said. “Who gets killed when a drug deal fails? Is it the guy who advocates to get you into a drug deal? No.”

Jay Bryant is still awaiting trial. He’s due in court in 2026, but Associated Press claims that Bryant and his lawyer César de Castro, are considering cutting a deal with the prosecution for a lighter sentence. “[He was] involved, but he’s not the killer,” the prosecution asserted. Washington’s hope for a mistrial hinges largely on Bryant’s presumed guilt, so the next few months will be crucial. Bryant and the prosecution will file their status with the courts and presiding Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall by August 5.

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Jussie Smollett To Appeal Staged Hate Crime Conviction In Illinois Supreme Court

March 28, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Back in 2021, California-born actor Jussie Smollett was convicted of five counts of disorderly conduct. He was charged for accusing two men of attacking him in Chicago, which was later found to be a hoax. Now, Smollett will have an opportunity to plead his case before the Illinois Supreme Court in an attempt to get his conviction overturned.

Smollett has previously argued that he shouldn’t face further prosecution after Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx dropped his case. Following his conviction, he was sentenced to 150 days behind bars. He served only six days in jail before being released. He was additionally ordered to pay the city $120K in restitution, a $25K fine, and serve 30 months of probation. The scandal also cost him his role in Empire.

Jussie Smollett Maintains His Innocence

Jussie Smollett To Appeal Staged Hate Crime Conviction Before Illinois Supreme Court — Jussie Smollett attends Atlanta Black Pride Weekend Pure Heat Community Festival at Piedmont Park on September 4, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

Smollett has maintained his innocence since allegedly staging the hate crime alongside two former Empire extras, Ola and Bola Osundairo. He’s been accused of orchestrating the 2019 hoax in an effort to bolster his career in entertainment. In December of 2023, a panel of three judges voted 2-1 to uphold Smollett’s conviction in an Illinois appeals court. This meant that Smollett would have to serve the remainder of his 150-day sentence or bring his appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Jussie Smollett’s name was most recently thrust back into headlines when Scottie Beam slammed Joe Budden for his controversial takes on the actor. She accused him of giving her a hard time for refusing to call him a “fa**ot” before having “all the info.” What do you think of Jussie Smollett maintaining his innocence? What about the actor being allowed to plead his case before the Illinois Supreme Court? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

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Andrew Tate Loses Appeal Over Asset Seizure, $17M Remains In Police Custody

March 22, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have lost their appeal to reclaim $17M worth of assets seized by Romanian law enforcement. As a result, the seized property will remain in police custody. As for the brothers themselves, they remain in police custody awaiting extradition to the United Kingdom. They have been charged with 21 counts of rape and sexual assault and will face trial in London.

Adin Ross recently apologized to Tate as the streamer, and disciple of Tate’s lifestyle brand, inadvertently got the influencer arrested. Ross had revealed on stream that Tate had told him that he was “planning to leave Romania and not come back”. This reached the Romanian authorities, who detained Tate for attempting to violate the conditions of his pre-trial release. However, Ross also noted that Tate had forgiven him and wanted the streamer to come to Romania to collaborate on some content. The veracity of this offer remains to be seen given the Tates’ impending extradition.

Andrew Tate & Elon Musk Turned Down Millions To “Sell Their Souls,” Influencer Claims

(Photo by DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images)

Elsewhere, Tate has cryptically claimed that he and Elon Musk turned down multi-million dollar payments to sell out. “I turned down 50m to sell my soul. All I had to do was shut up on certain subjects and sell trash to kids. I refused. Then I was arrested. Elon turned down 500m plus. Not many hero’s left. G,” Tate cryptically wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Tate did not specify who had offered the money or what he would have to stop speaking on to receive it. As a result, the post reads like a generic “deep state” conspiracy tweet. Later in the day, Tate reposted a post about the “new world order” from 2013.

Furthermore, people pointed out several hypocrisies. First, people noted that Tate is currently beefing with Musk because Musk seemingly ignored his offer to “advertise X on X” for $1M a month. Additionally, people noted that Musk had “sold out” in recent weeks. Musk went from a fierce advocate of Palestine to posting pro-Israel content and even touring Israel with government officials.

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R. Kelly Appeal Update: Attorney Claims State Is Pushing RICO Charges Too Far

March 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

R. Kelly is still fighting for his presumed innocence in federal appeals court, and on Monday (March 18), his attorney took aim at the framework that seeks justice for his crimes. Moreover, Jennifer Bonjean argued that the prosecution stretched out RICO laws “to the point of absurdity,” meaning that they misconstrued many aspects of this case for criminal gang activity. Not only that, but she believes this could set a dangerous precedent moving forward when it comes to other groups and crimes that RICO could wrongfully cover. During a hearing for the Court of Appeals of the Second Circuit, Bonjean told a judge panel that his employees were just staffers who did their job, not co-conspirators pushing crimes as RICO outlines.

Furthermore, she believes prosecutors were “preposterous” in their invocation of RICO laws to convict R. Kelly, a conviction and framework that she seeks to reverse. “The government has extended the RICO statute to a set of circumstances that is so beyond what the framers intended, which was to get at organized crime,” Jennifer Bonjean expressed. “Now, we’re talking about an organization with an alleged criminal, but not organized crime.” The singer’s 2021 conviction on nine RICO charges referenced his organized and long-running plot to gather and take advantage of women, both of age and underage. For this and much more, he received a 30-year prison sentence in 2022.

R. Kelly Performing In 2013

R. Kelly Appeal Case Attorney RICO Sexual Abuse Music News — R. Kelly performs onstage at the 2013 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET)

Regardless, at Monday’s hearing Jennifer Bonjean claimed that R. Kelly’s employees knew nothing of these crimes. Since the government could not prove otherwise, she argued, then RICO laws and convictions shouldn’t apply here. “The defendant had a system in place that lured young people into his orbit and then took over their lives,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kayla Crews Bensing counter-argued. She brought up evidence that the disgraced R&B star’s team knew enough of what was going on, including testimony that one of his colleagues approached a 16-year-old at a McDonald’s, gave her his number, and told her to call him. In addition, another employee alleged to have answered phones for the Chicago native’s “girlfriends,” and according to this worker, some of them were “mid-aged teenagers.”

“This is all evidence that the jury was entitled to infer that Kelly’s inner circle knew what was going on: that he was recruiting and maintaining underage women for sexual activity,” Bensing stated. While federally overturned convictions, Bonjean achieved this for Bill Cosby back in 2021 for similar crimes. After Monday’s hearing, which comprised of a lot of legal muddy water, the court will decide on this appeal in the next few months. “RICO is looking at organizations, that are then used to commit criminal acts,” Judge Denny Chin remarked. “It doesn’t have to be a criminal organization. It could be a completely legitimate organization. But if it engages in racketeering activity, it violates RICO.” For more news and updates on R. Kelly, stay posted on HNHH.

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Vybz Kartel’s Murder Conviction Overturned Due To Alleged Juror Misconduct

March 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

It’s been more than a decade since Vybz Kartel was put behind bars over the disappearance of his associate Clive “Lizard” Williams, whose body has yet to be found. Fans and peers have continuously called for the Jamaican dancehall artist to be released, particularly amid worrisome health issues he reportedly faced last year. The performer’s attorney told Fox 5 that he was battling a “life-threatening” illness in June while dealing with allegedly “inhumane” prison conditions.

Things are looking up for the hitmaker now, however. Today, Vybz Kartel appeared in court alongside his three co-defendants where he appealed his lifetime prison sentence, with a minimum of 32 and a half years. His appeal was successful, though the case can still be retried. He will remain behind bars for the time being.

Vybz Kartel Wins Murder Conviction Appeal

Vybz Kartel's Murder Conviction Overturned After 13-Year Prison Stint — Performs onstage during MTV’s Tempo network launch celebration October 16, 2005 in St. Mary, Jamaica. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

During the hearing, the defendants’ attorneys cited alleged juror misconduct that took place during the 2014 murder trial. Allegedly, one juror offered other jurors $500K in an attempt to sway the outcome of the trial. The Privy Council ruled that because of this, the original conviction should be overturned. “The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has concluded that the appeals should be allowed and the appellants’ convictions should be quashed on the ground of juror misconduct, and that the case should be remitted to the Court of Appeal of Jamaica to decide whether to order a retrial of the appellants for the murder of the deceased,” a statement by the Privy Council reads.

It’s unclear at the time of writing whether or not the case will be retried. What do you think of the latest development in the case of Vybz Kartel and his co-defendants? Are you glad that his murder conviction has been overturned? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

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Tory Lanez Appeals Again In Megan Thee Stallion Shooting Case, Brief In Limbo

February 26, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Tory Lanez is still appealing to vacate his sentence in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case, whose conviction resulted in a 10-year sentence. According to reported Meghann Cuniff, the brief reopening this appeal process isn’t in court records yet, but she will provide updates on developments as they emerge. Given this new revelation, folks got to debating again over whose side they believe in this legal case. For example, Drake recently took to his Instagram Story to advocate for his fellow Canadian’s freedom. Others still stand by the Houston MC, and they must all now wait for the next step in Lanez’s legal journey.

Furthermore, this brief and new appeal process is based on a December request from last year to vacate his sentence. Specifically, Tory Lanez wants the court to reevaluate his case following a new testimony from his driver and bodyguard Jauquan Smith, who had not testified previously. In addition, his legal team believes that other factors, such as his “childhood trauma” and the court’s erroneous decision to deport him, will play a role. According to Cuniff’s reporting on this, though, the court wasn’t expected to come to a decision on this matter for a couple of months, so we’ll see if they say anything about the appeal in the near future.

Meghann Cuniff Previews New Tory Lanez Appeal

The brief is to build off the Lanez’s petition filed in December about the driver that didn’t testify. Much more in my article from then: https://t.co/aUe641wMd4

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) February 26, 2024

Meanwhile, these developments come as folks like Wack 100 try to turn the case around in Tory Lanez’s favor in the public eye. He recently claimed that there’s unreleased video footage out there of the alleged shooting that would ruin Megan Thee Stallion’s career if it comes out. While many fans expressed heavy skepticism over this, the music executive doubled down on his claims. Not only that, but he also alleged that, since the supposed clip in question was apparently recorded by a minor, it’s not admissible as evidence in court.

However, there are also certain bright spots in Lanez’s prison stay. He’s still been able to engage with fans and see his family, so regardless of all the drama around him, he’s trying to do the best he can with what he has. Hopefully this personal peace and gratification is something that persists regardless of what the appeal’s outcome is. For more news and the latest updates on Tory Lanez, come back to HNHH.

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Jussie Smollett Takes Case To Illinois Supreme Court

February 6, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Jussie Smollett is taking his case regarding false claims he made about being a victim of a hate crime in Chicago in 2019 to the Illinois Supreme Court. His lawyer has filed a request to have his 2021 conviction for five felony counts of disorderly conduct revisited. At the time, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx agreed to a plea deal in which the actor didn’t have to admit guilt. However, Smollett claims public outrage over his case influenced the state into further prosecuting him. In turn, he believes it to be a case of double jeopardy.

“What should have been a straightforward case has been complicated by the intersection of politics and public outrage,” Smollett’s attorney Nenye Uche wrote in the filing. “The dismissal of the Petitioner’s charges, after his complete performance, was the result of a collaborative effort and agreement reached between the State and the Petitioner.”

Jussie Smollett Attends BET Awards

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: Jussie Smollett during the 2022 B.E.T. Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

According to TMZ, Smollet references the prosecutor’s initial comments which read: “After reviewing the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, the State’s motion in regards to the indictment is to nolle pros [not prosecute]. We believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.”

In the end, Smollett got 150 days in jail, as well as 30 months of probation, $120,106 in restitution to the City of Chicago, and a $25,000 fine. He previously appealed the conviction, but an Illinois court upheld the disorderly conduct ruling. If the case falls through in the Supreme Court, he’ll have to return to jail to finish out his sentence. Be on the lookout for further updates on Jussie Smollett on HotNewHipHop.

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