ruling

Tory Lanez Reportedly Begs Judge To Not “Ruin His Life” Ahead Of New Trial Ruling

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Tomorrow, the world will know whether Tory Lanez will receive a new trial in his case against Megan Thee Stallion, whom Lanez was found guilty of shooting. Moreover, he and his team have vehemently denied these claims and fought back against the verdict. On Monday (May 8), Judge Herriford adjourned a long hearing where both sides made their cases, whether for a new proceeding or sticking by the original ruling. Furthermore, reporter Meghann Cuniff gave some updates via Twitter about what went down towards the hearing’s end.

“Court just let out for the day,” Cuniff wrote. “Judge Herriford is going to issue his ruling tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Tory Lanez spoke to him before he was led out in handcuffs. ‘Please don’t ruin my life. I could be your son. I could be your brother,” Lanez told the judge, who is Black. There wasn’t a commotion. A sheriff’s deputy was urging Lanez to shut up but it wasn’t a big thing. Herriford didn’t say anything back and Lanez was led out of the courtroom without incident. This followed loooong argument this afternoon. More details soon.”

Read More: Remember When Drake & Tory Lanez Were Beefing?

Tory Lanez Pleaded With Judge To Grant Him New Trial: Report

In addition, the reporter also detailed some of the argument’s that Tory Lanez’s defense team had when arguing for another trial. One thing that stood out to Cuniff was defense attorney Jose Baez stating that the love triangle story between him, Megan, and Kylie Jenner hurt the defense unfairly. Not only that, but he believed that it came up solely because it played into the District Attorney’s narrative that the 30-year-old is a misogynistic rapper. However, he didn’t point out that his defense hinged on Kelsey Harris shooting Meg out of jealousy over their “shared romantic interest.”

Also, Cuniff wrote that another attorney boldly argued that the jurors shouldn’t have heard the name “Tory Lanez” throughout trial, as it’s a creative expression. The judge pointed out that his own lawyer referred to him as such in court proceedings. Another big takeaway according to the reporter is that the claim that Lanez’s DNA is excluded from the gun does not stem from new evidence. Instead, it’s from a new analyst who examined the same DNA evidence prosecutors accessed. For the latest updates on this story, make sure to keep checking in with HNHH.

Read More: Megan Thee Stallion Reflects On Tory Lanez’s Guilty Verdict

T.I. & Tiny’s Lawsuit Over OMG Dolls Declared Mistrial

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The judge for T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris‘s lawsuit against a toymaker has declared a mistrial. The ruling was handed down after jurors heard a woman testifying she “did not want to support a company that steals from African Americans and their ideas.”

The woman, Moneice Campbell, gave her testimony via recorded video. She added that “people often steal from the black community and make money off of it.”

Senior U.S. District Judge James V. Selna declared the mistrial after hearing arguments from the company, MGA Entertainment’s lawyers. They held that “inflammatory” testimony about cultural appropriation had ruined their chances of a fair trial. They also labeled the comments a “rant” that is prejudicial against the defendants.

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and T.I. attend the 51st NAACP Image Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/FilmMagic)

The judge had previously prohibited discussion about “cultural appropriation” as he found it to be “immaterial and impertinent” to the actual legal issues at play.

Following the ruling, MGA Entertainment provided a statement to Billboard claiming that “diversity has always been a key value” at the company. They added: “We are disappointed that the trial was cut short, but look forward to vindicating our rights in the next trial.”

MGA attorneys also wrote in a motion that challenging the testimony will only draw “further attention to it.”

T.I.’s lawyer, Erin Ranahan, tried to get the judge to reconsider the ruling.

The lawsuit is regarding the use of T.I. and Tiny’s stepdaughter’s likeness. They claim that MGA, in its series of “OMG” dolls, ripped off her look while working in the rap group OMG Girlz.

It’s unclear when a new trial could begin.

[Via]