trial

XXXTentacion Defendant Takes Stand As State’s Witness

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A fourth defendant in the killing of XXXTentacion, Robert Allen, took the stand as a state’s witness in court on Wednesday. Allen previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is now working with the prosecution. Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome have been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery regarding X’s death. The group faces up to life in prison if convicted.

During his testimony, Allen claimed that Michael Boatwright was the one to fire the gun. He confirmed that Boatwright fired at “Triple X.” Allen also denied being hired by anyone to commit the robbery. He added that Boatwright and Newsome were hesitant to go ahead with the crime, but Williams peer-pressured them by making fun of them for being scared.

Robert Allen’s Testimony

Earlier in the trial, XXXTentacion’s uncle, Leonard Kerr, detailed the day of the shooting from his perspective. Kerr was in the passenger seat of X’s car while they left RIVA Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, Florida at the time of the shooting. Surveillance footage from the time shows Kerr fleeing as the robbery goes down.

“We get in the car to drive out. At the exit, when we pull out, we stop,” Kerr said, recalling the moment on the stand. “[XXXTentacion] looked to the left. I looked to the right. By the time [XXXTentacion] looked to the left, I see a car coming down the block and blocked the entrance. After the car pulled by the entrance, two persons jump out the side doors. One come on Jahseh side, one come on the side that I’m on. The taller one do like this, ‘You don’t come out of the fucking car.’ The other one was at Jahseh’s side…He was saying, ‘Give me the chain. Where’s the chain?’”

As for the three remaining defendants’ defense, their lawyers recently claimed that Drake may have actually been involved in the 2018 slaying. They explained that investigators never looked into X’s previous feud with Drake prior to his death. X once tweeted, “If anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi,” but later claimed to have been hacked.

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XXXTentacion’s Uncle Recounts Day Of Rapper’s Murder

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XXXTentacion’s uncle, Leonard Kerr, recounted what he saw on the day the rapper was fatally shot during the first day of trial regarding his killing, Tuesday. Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome have been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery regarding X’s death. Kerr was in the passenger seat of X’s car while they left RIVA Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, Florida at the time of the shooting. Surveillance footage from the time shows Kerr fleeing as the robbery goes down.

“We get in the car to drive out. At the exit, when we pull out, we stop,” Kerr said, recalling the moment on the stand. “[XXXTentacion] looked to the left. I looked to the right. By the time [XXXTentacion] looked to the left, I see a car coming down the block and blocked the entrance. After the car pulled by the entrance, two persons jump out the side doors. One come on Jahseh side, one come on the side that I’m on.”

XXXTentacion’s Uncle

From there, he demonstrated to the jury how one of the men held their gun. “The taller one do like this, ‘You don’t come out of the fucking car.’ The other one was at Jahseh’s side…He was saying, ‘Give me the chain. Where’s the chain?’” Kerr then took a moment to compose himself before continuing. He explained that he took off and began running. He later heard multiple noises that sounded like explosions from behind him. Afterward, he returned to the vehicle after the gunmen fled the scene. He found XXXTentacion unresponsive and called X’s mom, Cleopatra Bernard.

If convicted, Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome face up to life in prison. A fourth man, Robert Allen, previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. As for their defense, lawyers for the group recently claimed that Drake may have actually been involved in the 2018 slaying. They explained that investigators never looked into X’s previous feud with Drake prior to his death. X once tweeted, “If anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi,” but later claimed to have been hacked. There is no evidence linking Drake to X’s murder.

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Defense Attorney In XXXTENTACION Murder Trial Brings Up Drake Again

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Drake and XXXTENTACION beef stems from the Florida rapper’s hit record, “LOOK AT ME!”. Shortly after the release of More Life, X accused Drizzy of stealing his flow on one of the songs. Some felt as though it was a reach but Akademiks later confirmed that X was on Drake’s radar at that point. So, it seemed highly likely that Drake took inspiration from X’s hit record, at the very least, when he dropped the Giggs-assisted, “KMT.” However, their feud didn’t end there.

Unfortunately, they never had the opportunity to bury the hatchet. X continued to throw shots at Drake who publicly ignored them. However, many fans believe Drake responded subliminally on records. This led to bizarre theories tying Drake to the murder of XXXTENTACION. Again, it seems like a reach but the defense attorneys for one of the alleged killers have tried to push this narrative several times in court. In fact, he asked the judge to demand Drake to sit down for a deposition ahead of the trial, which was later denied. 

Defense Attorney Blames Drake For XXXTENTACION’s Death

A defense attorney in the XXXTENTACION case that continues to accuse Drake of the Florida rapper’s murder. During the opening statements, attorney Mauricio Padilla stated that  Broward County Sheriff’s Office was under pressure to find the suspects since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting happened months before. Though four men were arrested, Padilla said that authorities didn’t explore all of the potential suspects. Specifically, he mentioned X’s long-standing rival, Drake, due to the online tension between them.

Padilla cited a post on XXXTENTACION’s Instagram that read, “If anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi.” Though X later claimed he was hacked, Padilla used this point to deflect the evidence surrounding his client. During the pre-trial, Padilla also brought up several other artists and celebrities on the potential witness lists. Along with Drake, Padilla mentioned Joe Budden, Offset, Quavo, and even 6ix9ine. It seems highly unlikely that any of these individuals will appear in court. We’ll continue to provide more updates on the trial of the suspects accused of murdering XXXTENTACION.

Courtroom Video Shows XXXTENTACION Pull Out Cash At Bank Of America: Watch

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It’s been roughly five years since XXXTENTACION was shot and killed in broad daylight. However, today marks the beginning of the trial for the three suspects allegedly involved in the rapper’s murder. Though there have been a number of delays and requests, the trial finally began on Monday.

Michael Boatwright, 27, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24 are facing trial for their alleged involvement in X’s death. Prosecutors charged each with first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. They pinned Boatwright as the triggerman while alleging Newsome pointed a gun at the rapper – a claim that X’s uncle seemingly confirmed on the stand. However, Boatwright’s attorney stated that his client wasn’t present at the shooting nor could they be identified since the perpetrators wore masks when they shot the rapper. Newsome’s attorney also stated that he would prove his client wasn’t present at the time of X’s murder. A fourth suspect, Robert Allen, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year and will testify during the trial. 

Along with opening statements, there were also several witnesses who took the stand. A teller from the Bank of America said that X first tried to withdraw $250K cash. However, the teller said the bank didn’t have that kind of cash on hand. During court, prosecutors shared video of X pulling out money from the bank on the day he passed. 

The suspects robbed XXXTENTACION of $50K in cash that the rapper kept in a Louis Vuitton duffle bag. A family relative of X, Leonard Kerr, also took the stand as a witness. Kerr accompanied X to the dealership where he tried to purchase a car. “His mom asked me to accompany him,” Kerr stated when asked why he was with X. During his testimony, he recalled warning the rapper to zip up his duffle bag in order to prevent attracting unwanted attention. 

Kerr also recalled the moment when the gunman approached the vehicle. He stated that he managed to run from the passenger side as soon as he saw weapons pointed toward him. When he returned, he saw XXXTENTACION unconscious in the vehicle. We’ll continue to keep you updated on any more information regarding the case.

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DaBaby Requests Postponement In Civil Trial For Alleged Assault

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DaBaby has requested that a Los Angeles judge postpone his upcoming civil trial regarding a 2020 assault. The lawsuit comes from a man who says DaBaby assaulted him for enforcing “basic rental rules” at his North Carolina property. The rapper had been leasing the property at the time. He is also facing criminal charges for the incident.

A hearing in the case had been scheduled for April, but DaBaby’s lawyers argue the court must give the criminal case surrounding the same incident precedent. According to legal documents obtained by RadarOnline, DaBaby’s attorneys say he “cannot be called to testify in this matter until after his criminal case has been resolved, which will not be until October 2023, at minimum.”

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 04: Rapper DaBaby performs onstage during “Rolling Loud Presents: DaBaby Live Show Killa” tour at Coca-Cola Roxy on December 04, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

The attorneys added that if the judge doesn’t postpone the trial, “[DaBaby] will not be able to respond to discovery or testify without providing information that could potentially incriminate him in the parallel criminal case.” They added that postponing the trial will “protect [DaBaby’s] Fifth Amendment rights.”

As for the alleged assault, Gary Pagar claims it went down as he checked in on his rental property. At the time, he discovered 40 people and a film crew recording a video for DaBaby. He attempted to speak with the rapper to request he stop filming. It was at this point that DaBaby allegedly assaulted Pagar. He claims the group stole “valuable kitchenware,” while leaving behind thousands of dollars in damages. They also never paid the full lease. Further court proceedings regarding the case will continue on October 23.

DaBaby’s latest legal trouble comes after a jury found in favor of the rapper in another alleged assault. A concert promoter named Kenneth Carey claimed DaBaby beat and robbed him. He also accused him of backing out of a deal to host one of his events. Additionally, DaBaby successfully countersued him for invasion of privacy and unauthorized use of name or likeness. The trial took place back in December over the course of five days.

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Ashton Kutcher Hopes Danny Masterson “Is Found Innocent” Of Rape

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Watching his longtime friend and colleague embattle sexual assault accusation hasn’t been easy for Ashton Kutcher. However, there is a select group who don’t sympathize with Danny Masterson as he faces several allegations of rape. The accusations surfaced in 2017 when Kutcher and Masterson were starring in The Ranch. The That 70’s Show stars reunited for the Netflix series, but the allegations caused the production to part ways with Masterson.

In a cover feature for Esquire, Kutcher told the outlet that he wants his friend “to be found innocent of the charges brought against him.”

Read More: Danny Masterson Will Stand Trial On Three Rape Charges: Report

It was clarified that this didn’t mean Kutcher was keen on Masterson getting away with a crime he may have committed.

“Ultimately, I can’t know. I’m not the judge.” The actor added, “I’m not the jury, I’m not the DA, I’m not the victim. And I’m not the accused. And so, in that case, I don’t have a space to comment. I just don’t know.”

Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson ***exclusive*** ***Exclusive*** (Photo by J. Vespa/WireImage for Maverick)
Read More: Danny Masterson’s Ex-Girlfriend Testifies That She Woke Up To Him Raping Her

Kutcher does, however, feel for Masterson’s child.

“Someday, his kid is going to read about this,” he added. “I wholesale feel for anybody who feels like they were violated in any way.”

The actor founded Thorn alongside Demi Moore—a non-profit centering on helping victims of sex trafficking and abuse. Some have pushed back on Kutcher’s remarks about Masterson, while others understand his position.

Last year, Masterson’s trial was determined to be a mistrial after jurors disagreed on the outcome of multiple charges.

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Young Greatness: Jury Convicts Man Of Rapper’s Murder

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A jury in New Orleans handed down a guilty verdict in the murder of Theodore Jones, better known as rapper Young Greatness

The court found 43-year-old Donald Reaux guilty of second-degree murder after the shooting of Young Greatness. The jury deliberated for eight hours before handing over their verdict.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 26: Rapper Young Greatness attends the 2016 BET Awards at the Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

During the three-day trial, prosecutors argued that Reaux intended on robbing the rapper of cannabis but used two teenagers to set up Jones. They said Reaux gave the two teenagers, Lovance Wix and Donny Maxwell, handguns and informed them to wait behind a dumpster at a Waffle House. Prosecutors claimed Reaux wanted to meet Young Greatness inside of the restaurant.

From there, Wix and Maxwell approached Greatness as he entered his car and shot him in the back. Jones managed to leave the vehicle but died in the parking lot shortly after.

ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 26: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Rapper Young Greatness attends a Party at Amora Lounge on October 26, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)

Maxwell admitted that he fired the bullet that killed Greatness, though Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Strauss said the blood was on Reaux’s hands. “It’s that man’s fault,” she told the court, per NOLA.com.

Ultimately, security footage captured Reaux leaving in a vehicle with his girlfriend that trailed behind Wix and Maxwell.

Reaux was also found guilty of obstruction of justice, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Additionally, the jury convicted him of conspiracy to obstruct justice, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 18: Rapper Young Greatness attends the Commision Kickoff Weekend at Josephine Lounge on November 18, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)

Reaux will return to court on Feb. 8th for his sentencing. Judge Camille Buras will hand down a mandatory life sentence.

Wix previously pleaded guilty to his crimes, including armed robbery and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. A judge sentenced him to 20 years. Meanwhile, Maxwell’s sentencing date is scheduled for Jan. 31st. He also pleaded guilty to his crimes.

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Hurricane Chris Gets Break In Shooting Trial Thanks To Forensics Expert

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Hurricane Chris just caught an early break for his upcoming shooting trial thanks to some help from a forensics expert. Moreover, his legal team recently spoke to The Shade Room to maintain that the rapper’s actions were in self-defense. According to the 33-year-old’s lawyers, they will prove his innocence at his upcoming argument and hearing on February 1st.

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 20: Rapper Hurricane Chris attends the MP3waxx.com Deejays & Producers Honors Luncheon at Vibes Lounge on September 20, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Ben Rose/Getty Images for MP3Waxx.com)

For those unaware, authorities arrested Hurricane Chris after he shot and killed a man who tried to steal his car. In fact, the car wasn’t his, which added a charge of stolen possession of a 2016 Mercedes Sedan to Chris’s list. Moreover, the incident occurred outside of a convenience store in his home city of Shreveport, Louisiana. While Chris argued self-defense, officers dismissed such claims after reviewing gas station security footage.

Moreover, the “A Bay Bay” MC’s main trial will being on February 13th. After a court hearing last Wednesday (January 18), his lawyer Alex Washington shared updates with The Shade Room. According to said report, a judge allowed a forensic analysis expert to testify on the artist’s behalf and support claims of self-defense.

“Hurricane Chris’ actions were in self-defense and justified,” the lawyer stated. “Today, the court ruled to allow our Forensic analysis expert to testify at trial.

“He will allow the second expert to testify once we provide a written report to the State,” Washington continued. “Both experts will assist in proving that Hurricane Chris actions were reasonable and justified. The February 1 date will clear up any small issues.”

Meanwhile, the Shreveport native posted a $500,000 bond just two days after his incarceration. Since posting a video shortly after, he stood by his innocence.

“Hello world, hello world, hello world,” he said in the clip. “I’m sure you got the news by now. I was involved in a very unfortunate incident on Friday morning, a very unfortunate incident. I wanna thank everybody who’s been praying for the family of the deceased and everybody who’s been praying for my family.

“After a good, thorough investigation, my name will be cleared. Let God work, watch God work. God bless. Thank you.”

Still, what do you think of Hurricane Chris and his trial being assisted by a forensics expert? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates on Hurricane Chris’s case.

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Tory Lanez Reportedly Feels Regret For Not Testifying In Megan Thee Stallion Trial

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Just last month, Tory Lanez was found guilty on all three counts in his Megan Thee Stallion shooting case. Lanez was being tried for felony assault as well as two gun-related charges. Overall, it was an emotional case as Meg took the stand and recounted her story. Additionally, there was a lot of public interest considering the parties involved.

Since that time, some have rushed to Tory Lanez’s defense claiming that he truly is innocent and that the jury got it wrong. However, Lanez is still facing over 20 years in prison and he could even face deportation to Canada. Ultimately, that’s why the artist plans to appeal the case with his new lawyer, David Kenner.

Tory Lanez
Tory Lanez attends Shaq’s Fun House presented by FTX at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Tory Lanez Has Regrets

According to a new story from Rolling Stone, Lanez feels very regretful about how he went about his initial trial. Mostly, he just wishes he had actually testified in court. As many already know, Lanez was directed not to speak during the trial, and he ultimately took that advice.

Now, it seems as though Tory feels like his first lawyer George Mgdesyan gave him poor advice. Consequently, this led to the lawyer being taken off the case. Mgdesyan has since defended his departure from the case noting that he doesn’t do appeals.

Tory Lanez attends Rolling Stone Live Big Game Experience at Academy LA on February 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for MCM)

Moving forward, Lanez is set to receive his sentencing on February 28th. From there, his legal team can start the appeals process, and go from there. However, there are no guarantees that he can get this conviction overturned.

This is a developing story so stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news and updates. Additionally, let us know what you think about this revelation, in the comments below.

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6ix9ine Trolls Gunna In Latest IG Post

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6ix9ine called out Gunna in the comments on his latest post on Instagram, Tuesday night. It is Gunna’s first upload since taking a plea deal in the RICO case against Young Thug and the rest of YSL.

“N****s acting like they switching to a side But it’s only one side,” Gunna captioned a photo of himself sitting next to a home studio set-up. “#YslTheLabel #FreeThug&Yak GUNNA BACC!!!!!”

MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 17: Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine performs during the MiamiBash 2021 at FTX Arena on December 17, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images,)

In response, 6ix9ine criticized Gunna for referring to YSL as a “label” after admitting to it being a “gang” as part of his guilty plea.

6ix9ine commented: “In court you said it was a gang here on IG u saying the label. Lol u can’t make this shit up.”

Gunna has been out of jail since accepting the plea deal, last month. While he won’t serve any more time in prison, he will have to commit to 500 hours of community service.

Tuesday isn’t the first time that 6ix9ine has criticized Gunna in recent months. In December, he alleged that the YSL rapper incriminated Young Thug in his plea deal.

“Just stfu and listen I know ya don’t wanna accept it,” he wrote online at the time. “Your man is fighting for his life in court on a gang RICO. Judge: You are aware YSL is a gang correct. Fatass gunna: Yes ma’am. Judge: ONLYYYYY you and Jeffrey are in the car and the police find a handgun and drugs. This didn’t belong to you correct? Fatass gunna: Yes ma’am.”

As for Young Thug’s case, the jury selection process began this week.

Check out Gunna’s Instagram post featuring the aforementioned comment by 6ix9ine below.

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